翻訳待ち：How I survive summer without AC: My top hot weather coping tips, tricks, and gadgets

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Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET's key takeawaysTo keep your home cool, keep the heat out.Fans are great, but useless once temps pass 95°F.I've been using a fan with a hidden cooler.Heatwaves have been a significant, recurring problem in 2026 -- and there's been a string of them since late June. The US has seen a series of heat domes settle over the country, with daytime temperatures hitting 115 to 120°F in desert basins, and nighttime city temperatures in some places not dropping much below 80°F. Here in the UK, we've had a series of record-breaking heatwaves with a peak of 99.9°F. And Europe is worse, with France seeing a peak of 111.7°F and Sicily, Italy hitting 119.1°F.Also: You've been using your power bank wrong, and airline rules make that obviousIn short, it's safe to say that it's hot. Also, it's very likely to get hotter this month, and who knows what the future will bring.OK, so those are the facts, but how do you keep cool when the mercury is rising so ferociously?You have ACUse air conditioning (AC). Enjoy. I'm not jealous at all (here in the UK, AC is rare).You don't have AC The trick to keeping your home cool is to do everything you can to keep the heat out in the first place. Keep the curtains and blinds closed on sun-facing windows during the day, and open windows at night when it's cooler to let the heat out. If you live in a split-level property, opening an upstairs window on the shaded side of the house can allow heat to escape during the day. Setting a fan in the window to blow outwards can help the process.If you want to get scientific, get , , or and put these up in the windows. And for maximum keeping-heat-out power, put these items on the outside of the windows rather than the inside. Also: I tested a $14 emergency radio with solar and hand-crank power - it's in my survival kit nowUse fans to circulate air, but keep in mind that fans don't cool air. Instead, they move air about. And once the temperature hits 95°F, fans are pretty much useless, as they blow hot air at you.In my experience, if you're looking for a fan, tower oscillating fans are far more effective at moving air than table fans, and you can pick up app-controlled fans packed with neat features. I'm quite a fan of my . It moves a lot of air, has loads of fan speed and oscillation settings, and is quiet. And if the worst comes to the worst, find somewhere with AC, such as a public building like a library or café. Keeping yourself coolCan't just sit in front of a fan all day in an air-conditioned room? Having spent quite a bit of time in hot countries, I know that feeling of having to go out into the heat. The first thing I learned was to wear loose, light-colored, breathable clothing. As someone who likes dark colors, this approach took some getting used to, but it really makes a difference.Then pop a hat on your head. Also: I lost 100 pounds in 7 months: How a smart scale and an Apple Watch helped track my progressNext, I've been using a to mist my skin and clothing with water. You don't need much water, as a little goes a long way. If things are getting really hot, a cold, wet towel on pulse points (neck, wrists, groin, armpits) is super effective. Some people swear by the that seem all the rage, but I'm a bit old-school and instead use an -- a tube of cloth filled with absorbent beads that you soak in water for a few minutes, and then wear around your neck. It's cheap and simple, but it works.While I'm not into neck fans, I have become a convert to . In fact, I now have two fans that I use regularly. Both have multi-speed fans that move a lot of air and can be used as power banks -- because why not -- and . Initially, I thought this module was used to cool the air (which it doesn't), but later I learned that you hold it against your skin, a technique that works surprisingly well. As for the advice my grandma used to dish out to avoid excess caffeine and alcohol when it was hot because they dehydrate you, it seems that the current evidence contradicts the advice she was dishing out.Caffeine and alcohol are OK in moderation, but don't go crazy on the coffee and booze. Also: The wearable health boom is creating a data overload for doctors - what happens nextIn addition, do what you can to avoid strenuous activity during times of peak heat (typically 11 am to 4 pm), and hydrate steadily throughout the day rather than chugging pints when you're already thirsty. Plain water works, as do milk and orange juice, but I'm a heavy sweater and find that electrolytes also help greatly to keep me hydrated (after a lot of testing -- and tasting -- I've found that is what works best for me). Interestingly, sports drinks and sodas don't perform much better than water.Getting into a hot car? Well, there's science to cooling the vehicle faster than AC can. When heat gets too muchIt's also a good idea to know the signs of heat exhaustion and the more dangerous heat stroke, which is a medical emergency.Heat exhaustion symptomsHeavy sweatingWeaknessDizzinessNauseaCool clammy skinTreatment: Get somewhere cool, hydrate, and rest.Heat stroke symptomsHigh body tempHot/dry or flushed skinConfusionFast pulsePossible loss of consciousnessTreatment: Call emergency services immediately and cool off rapidly (ice and/or cold water) while waiting.