We are having one of the hottest summers ever this year and keeping cool has been one of the most important things on people’s minds. When we feel comfortable we are happy; when we are uncomfortable the world is not a nice place. Even five minutes outside, these days, is enough to make anyone feel uncomfortable. If we could all stay inside air conditioned rooms all day, and drive air conditioned cars to and from our destinations the heat of the day might not be so bad. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to accomplish staying inside when we all have lives to lead. There are plenty of things we can do, however, inspite of the heat outside. Following are a few suggestions to help keep us not only cooler, but also more healthy.

1. Wear enough clothes. When it is very hot people usually think of taking off layers of clothes. In some instances this is okay, but when we have extreme temperatures, putting on more clothes is advised. The first thing to consider is the color of the outer garments, they should be white or at least light colored. We want to reflect as much of the heat and light as possible away from ourselves. White and light colored surfaces work best for reflectivity. Dark colors absorb heat and light and therefore make us warmer. The second consideration is that we need to keep our skin covered so that we do not get too much radiation from the sun. Since there is no such thing as a "healthy tan" we should not try to expose our skin to the sun’s rays during the hottest part of the day. We are literally cooking our skin. Be sure that the outer clothes are loose fitting. We want plenty of air to circulate around the skin.

2. Wear sunglasses. Our eyes are very susceptible to damage from the sun. The sun’s brightness is too much for us to handle and so we need to wear protective eyewear at all times when outside in the daytime. If there is no eye protection available we normally squint in an effort to try to decrease the excessive brightness coming from the sun. Not only does this action not work well enough, but also it causes us to wrinkle the skin on our faces causing lines and premature aging of the skin.

3. Wear a hat. A hat with a wide, three hundred sixty degree brim is a must when out in the sun. It protects our head, face, and neck from dangerous sunburn. Even the tiny amount of shade that a hat provides is a welcome relief from the sun’s rays. Light colored, similar to the clothes recommended, is essential. You can feel an instant difference in temperature when switching from a light colored to a dark colored hat.