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Summer is fast approaching and with it comes the longest and warmest days of the year. While some take to the warm weather without any problems, everybody should still take precautions to stay healthy and comfortable during the summertime. Whether it’s taking small steps to cool yourself down or improving your home by buying an air cooler, you should do everything in your power to avoid overheating.

In today’s short post, we are going through the 7 must-haves during summer. These are seven things that everybody can do to stay cool, or at least reduce how much heat your body faces. They’re all simple solutions too, so you can still enjoy your summertime while practicing the following habits. 

1. Summertime Clothing

Cooling yourself off starts with you, so one of the surest ways to keep cool during the summer is to wear the right clothing. Many of us automatically dress for the weather without paying much thought but it’s handy to spell out what kind of clothing you should wear during summer.

First, most of your clothing should be loose-fitting. If you’re wearing pants, they should be loose, and so should your shirts or blouses. Summer dresses exist for a reason, they’re made to be worn during hot days. Most men can get away with a loose-fitting white shirt. Bright colors are your best friend during the summer because of how they interact with light. Darker colors absorb more light, so they retain more heat energy from it, while white and bright colors reflect it away from you.

2. A Water Bottle

It can be store-bought or a sports bottle that you fill up regularly, but hydration is very important during warm weather. It is important all year round but when the weather gets hot, you’ll benefit from extra hydration to replace the water content you lose by sweating. You should be drinking approximately 3.7 liters a day if you’re a man and 2.7 liters a day if you’re a woman.

3. Sunscreen

You’ll need to have sunscreen, of course. The minimum SPF requirement by the CDC is SPF 15 but this only means you can withstand direct sunlight for fifteen times longer before burning. If you have prolonged outdoor activities planned, you’ll need a higher rating. SPF also refers to UVB exposure, so many recommend getting a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays to get the most protection. Reapply sunscreen every two hours if needed.

4. A Cool Hat

Along with sunscreen, you should also have a cool hat if you are outdoors. You want it to look cool, sure, but what’s more important is that it keeps the sun off your head, preventing sunstroke and other related illnesses.

You can also pay top dollar for hats or bandanas that can cool you off, which work by incorporating cooling packs into the design so they sit against your forehead and chill you out. A wide-brimmed hat is preferable to keep the sun out of your face too.

5. A Handheld Fan

You can’t laze in the air conditioning of your house all summer long, especially if you want to go out and enjoy the sun. A handheld fan can save you and provide temporary relief during those hot days. There are all sorts available on the market so you’ll have to shop around for your favorite. We’d recommend you get one that can be charged via USB and, if possible, can blast sprays of water or mist in your direction. By incorporating tiny water droplets into the air that the fan shoots, these fans cool you off much more than standard ones.

6. Appropriate Bedding

Summer doesn’t stop when the sun goes down, so make sure your bedding keeps you cool. Any PJs should be made with a moisture-wicking material. Likewise, your mattress and pillow should be breathable. Hypoallergenic bamboo mattresses and pillows keep the sweat away during long, stuffy summer nights. If comfort is a priority, they should have memory foam too but these typically cost more.

7. Knowledge Of Heat Illnesses

Our final must-have is more of a safety precaution. You must know the signs of heat-related illness, especially if you’re caring for a young or elderly person. If you or somebody you know has been exposed to a lot of heat and then complains about headache, nausea, dizziness, and a rapid heartbeat then they need to have medical assistance. If they faint or report breathing problems, seek help immediately.