If you have a body and live on this planet, you may have noticed the extreme weather we’ve been experiencing lately. Here in Wisconsin, we have had a warm winter, tornadoes and thunderstorms in the spring, and now a sweet, sweet summer heat wave. We can thank climate change for a lot of our weather related problems but in tandem with our friend El Niño, an anomalous weather pattern occurring every few years that brings warmer ocean temperatures among other things, weather is extra fun this year. Essentially, our atmosphere is unstable which makes our weather unstable. You can read more about El Niño here at Britannica so I won’t bore you with the nerd stuff.
While this bodes a grim future on a grander scale, what does this mean for us in our daily lives? It’s important to be prepared for natural disasters and knowledge is our greatest resource! Earlier in the year I published a mini zine on tornadoes (Handy Dandy Hijinx Mixed Media Guide To Fucken Tornadoes And What To Do When Shit Hits The Fan zine). Now I’m publishing an infographix miniseries on tips for staying cool in the summer without cranking the AC.
Be Cool in a heatwave with hot tips illustrated by hijinx mixed media with safety info from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Heat Safety Tips and Resources
Keep wet! Stay hydrated so your body produces more sweat! A wet body helps regulate temperatures. Since we are 60% water, we must consume water to keep wet. Avoid alcoholic or caffeinated beverages for optimal hydration. Drink cold, wet beverages perhaps with electrolytes to prevent heat stress.
Dress hotly! Appropriate apparel for high heat includes light-colored, lightweight, and loose fitting clothing. Consider cutting the sleeves off of all your shirts to ensure you LOOK hot af without BEING hot af.
Protect your flesh from the giant ball of fire in the sky! Since our atmosphere is deteriorating due to human behaviors, we must protect ourselves with tools such as sunscreen, sunglasses, umbrellas or hats. You can find naturally sourced shade in the wild under things like trees.
MELT ICE. WITH YOUR HOT BOD. First of all chinga la migra. Fuck ice. This big beautiful continent is made up of people from all over the globe and we are all getting Effed in the A with climate change amongst many other things. If we want to villainize anyone, it should be the Ugly Motherfuckers In Power who perpetuate fear, violence, greed, and division to distract us from their evil plan. If you have a heart that beats, YOU BELONG HERE. I stand with immigrants because I come from immigrants. Just like you.
Second of all if you’re feeling overheated you can put ice directly on your flesh or in a baggie or towel to help you cool down. Put it on your veins and feel the coolness course through your body to reinvigorate you!
Another way to cool down is to TAKE A COLD, WET SHOWER.
Save water by showering with your best friend :-)
And remember when you go to turn down your thermostat that we are all tapping into the same grid which can get strained during extreme weather. Save energy and save on your electricity bills by keeping it COMFY NOT COLD.
Thanks for reading a little bit about being hot and being cool. It’s really easy to become numb to the Horrors because they are so fucking persistent. Pay attention. Stay vigilant, stay smart, stay safe.
xox,
Jinx
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