High temperatures are on the way and an excessive-heat advisory has been issued for the Puget Sound region from noon Tuesday through Satuday.
With overnight low temperatures expected to be much higher than our normal night lows, here are some tips to sleep more coolly:
- Keep the sun outside. Close blinds and drapes completely on the sunny south and west sides of your dwelling, as direct sun can increase the temperature of a room by more than 10 degrees.
- Wet a thin towel or sheet, and squeeze out any excess water. Hang it directly in front of an open window. Warm air passes through the material causing the water to evaporate and the air to cool.
- Put a couple of bottles of frozen water, or a bowl of ice water, in front of a fan that’s aimed at your bed.
- Grab some gel ice packs, freeze them, put them in pillowcases and place them at strategic points — under your neck, knees, wrists.
- Turn off and unplug every electrical appliance you can.
- Take a hot shower or bath one to two hours before bed. That seems counterintuitive but the science shows the body has a physiological need to cool down a couple degrees in order to sleep. The hot water creates a circumstance that allows your body temperature to drop even if your sleep environment remains hot.
Related Heat Wave Resources
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