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How to Survive Without Air Conditioning

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In a heat wave, air conditioners,(AC) tend to go out. Now whether you're in the middle of a heat wave, or your air conditioning is broken, you need to know how to survive without air conditioning, and this will show you how.


  1. 1
    Drink lots of water. When you sweat because of the heat, you lose water to cool you off. Unless you replace this water, you may become dehydrated. It is a good idea to put ice in your water to cool you down more.
  2. 2
    Put tomorrow's clothes in the refrigerator. This keeps your clothes cool for tomorrow morning when you put them on. Put them in there a little bit before you go to bed for maximum cooling.
  3. 3
    Keep an eye on the news. The news will likely have the latest on the weather and what temperatures to expect for the following days. The Weather Channel is also a good alternative.
  4. 4
    Keep people spaced out. You emit body heat when you are alive which can transfer to another person making them hotter. Space out about ten feet to ensure you will get the least amount of warm air.
  5. 5
    Take warm showers. Take warm showers in the morning and at night to keep you cold. Do not take cold showers because then the body tries to heat you up, instead of cooling you down.
  6. 6
    Turn on fans. They keep cold air circulating through the room and cool off the hot air. If you have one, use a personal fan. Rotating ground fans are the best.
  7. 7
    Suck on ice cubes. Keeping your upper body is essential as it is the base temperature for the rest of the body. The frozen water will also melt and give you water.
  8. 8
    Go to the pool. Being submerged in water cools off your body and hydrates your pores. You may also make good friends who's houses may still have air conditioning!
  9. 9
    Go to a place with air conditioning. These are good places to cool off. Places like the library and movie theater can also take your mind off the heat by distracting you.

Community Q&A

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  • Ice water cools you off while hydrating you.
  • Putting a bowl of ice in front of a fan is like having an air conditioner.
  • Consider damping your clothes before putting in the fridge.
  • You can also use the freezer to freeze your clothes.


  • You may get hives, but don't worry, this happens when facing hot, then cold.
  • If you are feeling lightheaded or dizzy, drink water, if you still are facing these symptoms, go to your doctor! You may be facing heat exhaustion or other heat related injuries.

Article Info

Categories: Air Conditioning

In other languages:

Español: sobrevivir sin aire acondicionado

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