Global Experts Share 25 Heatwave Tips as Temperatures Top 53C

2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 26

Experts from Peru to Djibouti compiled 25 practical ways to stay cool in heatwaves, centering on earlier schedules, steady hydration, shade, airflow and lighter meals.
53C heat alerts in Djibouti and repeated 40C-plus conditions in places including Jordan, Rio and Namibia underpin advice to avoid peak sun, sip water regularly and cool skin with damp cloths, showers or ice towels.
Several tips challenge common habits: loose long clothing can protect better than bare skin, fans and shutters can reduce reliance on air conditioning, and thermometers help time when to open or close windows.
The guidance also stresses adapting routines—moving work, exercise and socializing to mornings or evenings, easing expectations on sleep and children’s schedules, and using trees, awnings and home ventilation to cut heat exposure.
The broad message is that as hotter summers become normal in many regions, coping increasingly depends on redesigning daily behavior, homes and public spaces rather than treating heat as a short-lived anomaly.