Beloved, if you know the name of the person that opened the gates of hell and faced it in Nigeria’s direction, please let us know, we’d like to have a chat with them – because we don’t know who to beg again. The heat wave having its way with Nigerians is currently leaving us dripping in everything but swag.
While waking up in sweat puddles big enough to have you worrying you’ve returned to your bed- wetting past is one of the least sexy consequences of this heat wave, there are actual health consequences to living day in and out, in temperatures dancing around the 30s and almost 40° mark. Serious ones too like dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat strokes.
Living in Nigeria is hard enough without throwing these into the mix, short of recommending the gospel according to Nelly’s ‘Hot in Herre’, here are a couple of tips to make sure you stay well hydrated and ailment free while we ride out this heat wave:
Take warm showers.
Admittedly this might sound like we’re trying to tenderise you for a cannibal feast, but overly cold showers might actually cause your body to trap in heat. Lukewarm baths will instead keep you cool and calm your nerves, make sure to take these as often.
Avoid the sun.
This is a no-brainer. During this heat wave, make sure to avoid the sun like you’ve been owing it money and you saw it crossing the road to meet you.
However, if you absolutely must go out, be sure to stay strapped with sun screen, hats and glasses.
Keep windows closed during the day.
Drink a lot of water.
Spritz water on your face.
Because sometimes, cooling from within is just not enough. To stave off heat, be sure to spritz water on your face from time to time. If you’re really about this life, a handy spritz bottle to spray water on your body while the heat rages would be a sure way to keep cool.
Find the nearest AC/fan and make it your best friend.
Give it your last name if you can. Just be sure to be as closely situated to a cooling unit while the heat plays these terrible mind games with us.
Observing these while we wait for the wave to pass will be a sure bet to keeping rashes, heat strokes and dehydration as far away from you as is possible.
Don’t say we never did anything for you.
