My favorite way to cool down quickly is to soak a bandanna or Buff in cool water before tying it on my head. The cool water is quick relief and the evaporative cooling effect is very noticeable.

When I was in Arizona, I learned a lesson from the Hispanic community - long-sleeved guayabara or similar lightweight shirts. The long-sleeves keep the vapor next to your skin and help with evap cooling. Also, it slows down dehydration a little. Also, the old wet bandana around the neck routine is helpful.

I was a '60 gunner without an ammo bearer, so I feel your pain.

quietly Learning- How do you tie a banana on your head?

You could use the nylon cord from your PSP. Your question begs another, how does tying a piece of fruit to your head help keep you cool?

Jeanette Isabelle

This is how I do it every morning before I leave for work:


Soak the banana in cool water
Peel the banana skin into three strips leaving the last 2" of the peel connected
Eat 1/2 the banana. -The potassium is good for you
Mash the remainder of the banana against the top of your head. -The banana prevents sunburn
Cut (2) 18" lengths of paracord (I know you have paracord)
Tie one end of each length of paracord to a separate banana skin strip.
Arrange the skin so that the point of the skin is centered sticking up from the top of your head and each cord hangs in front of your ears. -The loose skin strip should hang free behind your head to protect your neck.
Tie the paracord into a nice big bow under your neck to keep it secure.

Spelling fixed

Hmmm...sounds like a lot of monkeying around to me.

Staying cool has been a huge priority around here this year. Heat waves + kiddos, especially babies, make it an extra challenge for me.

Rule number one for us is that we simply don't go out if it's too hot or humid.
There's nothing so urgent out there that requires the risk.

When we do go out, we start with full tanks, by drinking well the night and morning before we leave. We wear lightweight clothing and hats, take extra water and water making supplies, a tarp and paracord for shelter, and bandanas for soaking. We also slow down our pace and take lots of hydration breaks.

Mom tip: I add juice crystals to my son's water bottle, and throw a koolaid jammer or two into his pack, to encourage him to drink more.

A route by the water, where we can stop for a dip is also helpful. (And fun.)

I sip ice water.

We get about 4 weeks a year when high temps and humidity are an issue. We were in the 40Cs with humidity last week, and that seems to be an increasing trend. We had three or four of those heat waves last year in that little July to August window.

I think it's something that a lot of people here underestimate. Most folks here love the summer weather and do everything they can to get out in it. We actually lost someone here in our housing complex last week, who succumbed to it at our little swimming pool. Even the CPR didn't seem to make an impression on the sunbathers, who wrote it off to her age and/or weight. They're probably right that those were a factor, but lack of shade, water, etc... might have made a difference.

We often hike the local trails, and it amazes me how many people we see without hats, water bottles, or even a bag of some sort that might be carrying them, even down at the beaches where the sun and heat are unrelenting. Even in Scouts, when we give kids and parents lots of reminds, the kids will show up without water bottles or hats. Drives me nuts!!