subject: Home Air Conditioning - A Real Lifesaver [print this page] Home air-con isn't just a luxury for the wealthy and renowned. It can make a life or death difference - particularly for town dwellers who aren't prepared for a heat wave. The young and the aged are especially exposed, as well as anyone with an important medical condition. Here are one or two techniques to get prepared - in case.
Before the summer heat hits full force, reflect upon taking these steps : * Have your air-con company perform a regular service call. NATE authorized technicians take pride in keeping your unit active.
* Stock up on air filters and calendar them for regular changing. Soiled filters make the unit work harder and can end up in early hardware failure.
* Get a fan ( or 2 or 3 ) of some sort long before temperatures soar, in case. Each person in the household must have accessibility to a cooling breeze.
* discover if there are "cool centres" financed by your local executive or community centres. Remember that shopping centers and libraries are often open in the hottest times of the day.
* Learn the indicators of heat sickness ( headache ; giddiness or fainting ; revulsion or puking ; weakness ; muscle cramps ; trouble respiring ; bewilderment, irritation, disorientation or hallucinations ; hot, dry skin OR cold, clammy skin ). If you see any of these signs, call 911 or go to an ER right away.
When the aircon fails, make moves to keep your cool : * Call the AC contractor and make the suitable agreements.
* Change into thin, loose clothing, ideally natural fibers like cotton or linen.
* Drink lots of cool liquids, particularly water. Avoid alcohol and drinks with caffeine because they spur the body to lose the moisture it has to enjoy health in intense heat conditions.
* Eat little, frequent meals. This is the time to go low on protein intake. Save the high-protein - low carb diet for when the heat breaks.
* Take frequent (brief) showers. Tepid water is better than cold which can be a shock to your system, especially if you are overheated.
* Keep exercise small.
* don't forget to provide cool, fresh water and access to fans for pets.
One or two notes about windows : * Try to make arrangements for air to flow from front to back or side-to-side thru the house or studio.
* Block sunlight and close windows on the sunny side, if possible.
* Open windows on the cooler side of the house or studio and put a box fan in a window on the other side blowing OUT. It'll draw cool air thru the home and blow the hot air out. If the fan isn't wide enough to fill the entire lower part of the window, cut a chunk of card or plywood to dam the opening and help the fan work more efficiently.
