BEAT THE HEAT IN CAVENDISH

While high heat indexes, particularly if they are occurring for multiple days, can be serious for anyone, it’s particularly dangerous for those with chronic conditions, elders and children.

Be aware of signs of overheating: cramps, dizziness, fainting, headaches, heavy sweating, increased heart rate, nausea. Get help if you exhibit any of these signs.

Enjoy a long cool shower, a swim, use a cooling tie (neck cooler) and/or spray yourself with a squirt bottle that’s been refrigerated. As the water evaporates, it cools you.

Focus on keeping pulse points cool. These include: the inside of your wrists, the temple area, inside of elbows and knees, top of feet, inner ankle and neck. Holding something cold against these areas will make your whole body feel cooler.

While neck coolers are readily available on-line, these are easy to make. Click here for instructions. Rice pads, chilled in the freezer work. Use a clean sock or another fabric container. Fill it with rice and tie it off. Put it in the freezer for two hours. Rice retains cold for a long period of time so you can put on pulse points and/or run it over your sheets before bed.

-       The Black River is monitored weekly. One site is in Cavendish-the Cavendish Gorge. Water testing is done on Wednesdays, thanks to Black River Action Team (BRAT) with results usually available on Thursday. Results are posted at the swimming site, on the Cavendish VT Facebook page and in the Friday Cavendish Update

-       Vermont State Parks, with swimming (water is testing weekly) closest to Cavendish are Plymouth State Park and Wilgus.

-       Stoughton Pond Recreation Area near Perkinsville on North Springfield Lake is run by the federal government

-       Chester VT has a rec pool where lessons are available as well as adult swim. FMI 802 875-3603, 802-875-2173 or matt.mccarthy@chestervt.gov

Air conditioning is better than a fan. Don’t have one and can’t afford one? Make a makeshift air conditioner by putting ice in a shallow bowl in front of a fan. As the ice melts, it will cool you. Note this doesn’t work so well when it’s humid. When the AC is on keep windows, doors and fire place damper closed.

-       The Cavendish Library is air conditioned, so consider a reading break

-       Area restaurants are another option as are stores and retail outlets

-       The Cavendish Baptist Church basement is very cool and is opened when a cooling station is needed. Hours and other information will be posted to the Cavendish VT Facebook page when needed.

Take it easy. Avoid strenuous activities

Take steps to avoid the sun such as wearing a wide brimmed hat, using sunscreen (reapply if you are swimming), stay in the shade or use an umbrella,

Have sun blockers on windows to reduce sunlight in your house. Look for curtains and blinds that block the sun. You can find these at many stores, including places like Walmart. Open windows at night to draw in the cool air. In the morning, close windows and draw blinds to help keep the cool air in. When the temps outside are cooler than your house, open the windows. When the sun is out, close up before it heats up.

Eat Cool Foods. When possible avoid turning on the stove. Spicy foods can cool you down. Chili peppers contain capsaicin, which can make you sweat more. As the water evaporates it makes you feel cooler. Not surprising a lot of spicy salsa gets consumed in the summer. Salads and other light foods are perfect when the temps are high. Area restaurants are happy to provide in house dinning as well to go service.

-       Murdocks On the Green : Wed-Sat 5-8 pm. Indoor & outdoor dining as well as take out. Check their Facebook page for daily specials.

-       Outer Limits Brewery -  Open Wed-Sun. Hours are 3-8 Wed-Fri; 12-8 on Saturday and 12-6 on Sunday.

-       Singletons: Open Monday-Sunday 8 am-7 pm, click here for their menu. They have a wide array of prepared foods, including items that can be put right on the grill

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. As you lose water you can become dehydrated and your body temperature rises. Replacing fluids is essential to keeping cool.

Evaporative Coolers tend to work best when relative humidity is 60% or less; however, they can work in humid conditions when they are used in semi-outdoor settings (loading bays and docks, garages) or outdoors(sporting events, festivals). A personal air cooler or “mini air conditioner” is actually an evaporative cooler a.k.a. a swamp cooler, which pulls the warm air from your room and runs it through the cool water it has in its tank. That’s how it manages to decrease the overall heat in the room. We’ve asked locals about their experiences with the small units being advertised that are less than $100. Seems they are okay to cool one person, but don’t cool a room as advertised. More than one person noted they weren’t worth the money.

Avoid alcohol, caffeine and drinks with lots of sugar. They can cause you to become dehydrated.  Drink water instead.

Turn off appliances, computers etc. They can generate heat. If you are using a lap top, keep it off your lap. Skip the drying cycle on the dishwasher and leave the door open to let the dishes dry. Use appliances only when necessary and in the evening if possible, when the air is cooler. Instead of the dryer, hang clothes outside and even consider hand washing dishes. Use compact fluorescent bulbs as they not only save money, they give off less heat than standard incandescents.

Some extra tips:

• Read and watch movies about snow and cold temps.

• Check out the VT Department of Health’s tips from their page Hot weather and Health Impacts