15 tips to stay cool: How to beat the triple-digit heat forecast

The heat is here. And, for many residents in California, trying to get through the day of triple-digit temperatures is the name of the game.

Here is a list of 15 tips for staying cool in hot weather, compiled from our news stories over the years:

• Read up on heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
• Drink plenty of water (in the fitness word they call this “hydrating”), even if you’re not thirsty.
• Wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing, sunscreen and sunglasses. Your eyes need protection, too.
• Seek shade whenever you can. Many cities offer cooling centers to beat the heat.
• Check in on friends and family, especially senior citizens.
• Maybe not travel to visit Death Valley, where it can get over 100 degrees in the middle of the night.
• Eat cold foods for breakfast, like melon, yogurt or cottage cheese.
• Avoid high-protein foods, which require a cranked-up metabolism to burn. Eat shorter meals more frequently.
• Draw the blinds early in the day, say 9 a.m.; it’ll keep the house cooler.
• Check your medication and prescriptions. A number of medicines need to avoid extreme heat.
• Don’t generate extra heat. Unplug any electrical devices not being used, especially that washer/dryer. And leave that oven off.
• Adjust your ceiling fans: Experts say make sure your fan is spinning counter-clockwise. Doing so pushes the cool air downward.
• If you’re doing a lot of walking, don’t wear 100 percent cotton socks. You’ll sweat more and be likelier to get a blister.
• Run cold water on your wrists, a “pulse point,” or splash water on your face or temples, says Treehugger.com, which also has energy-efficiency suggestions.
• Spritz your sheets with a spray bottle before bedtime.

Additional reporting by Landon Hall.