I used to work in Las Vegas, outdoors, with poor or no a/c, and practically DIED every summer. Never got used to it in six years and was glad to see that place in my rear-view mirror.

My work now is driving. I have good a/c, always carry a crate of bottled water, and while waiting, I can park in the shade. If it's really hot, I take a thin towel (like a dishtowel) and soak it, wring it, and hang it around my neck, occas. wiping my arms with it. I have access to cold water at every depot or train yard.

When I'm home, if it's cool enough, I do some work early and late. I don't do much of anything in the heat of the day but rewet my towel and drink and cruise the internet or read. I don't have a/c, and not much air pollution. Hot spells don't really last too long here (humidity 40-50%), and when it is hot, I just don't get much done around the house.

In the past, when I've been traveling with my dog, I kept 'dog towels' handy. She could lay on a wet towel, and if it was very bad with little shade, I would cover the dog with a wet towel, too, and the evaporation would cool her (heaviness of panting being the gauge).

I run the sprinklers in the areas of grass that will be shady during the heat of the day for the dogs and chickens to lie in. The chickens pant and really suffer in the heat. They like to wade through very shallow water (like 1/2" or less), so I will let the hose run very slowly on a shady, hard-packed spot. I refill the water bowls every evening and check them every morning, and they all have water bowls in several places.

I also have the saucers from plant pots filled with water for the wild birds. It is said that if you keep water available in summer, birds and animals won't go after your garden crops (esp fruit) as much. I don't know if it's true, but I do it anyway.

Sue