Dealing with the heat...

[priest]

Re: Dealing with the heat...

Something to keep in mind as the word "Hydrated" is passed around here. Water is not the only thing you need to be drinking. You want to be adding electrolytes to the mix because you are also sweating/peeing out things like sodium, potassium, etc.

If all you are doing is pouring in water and not adding in electrolyte solution you put yourself at risk for hypovolemic hyponatremia which means you are loosing water as well as salt but salt faster than water. So be sure to add in a "sports drink" or add electrolyte solution/tabs to your water.

[froggy]

Re: Dealing with the heat...

Aside from seconding or thirding all of the advice given thus far (been to way too many Defcons on top of being an occasional burner), the advice given below bears repeating.

Vegas is a very car-centric town. It's not really dense enough to walk to most places, and there isn't a good public transit system. If you're planning on going somewhere in particular, double-check the walking distance on Google maps or similar.

Even though distances seem short on the maps, and even if you're a good hiker and walker, do NOT try to walk any more than a kilometer or so without at least a few liters of water and proper head gear, neck gear and clothing. it's often worth it to grab a cab, shuttle or ride in a friend's rental car if you intend on going anywhere on the strip. I have made the mistake way too many times of walking further than I should have because something "was only a block or two away". Vegas blocks are insanely big. Nighttime walks can be kinda nice, though.

Short story for the hell of it. Back when the event was at the AP, my wife and I decided to do some exploring and managed to walk from the AP to the strip and then from the strip to Fremont street over the course of a day. Foolish it was. We had to basically stop at every casino along the way, somehow swing a free bottle or glass of ice water (which isn't really that hard to do) and stay within every air conditioned walkway we could find. On top of that we managed to not get mugged on the not-so-nice sections of Las Vegas blvd between the strip and Fremont. It's a great story, but not really a good idea.

One final point: It always amazes me that people prefer and wear black t-shirts for Defcon. Sure they look snazzy and edgy, but shit are they way too hot to wear anywhere out during daylight hours. That said I'll probably wear at least one if I manage to make my way out there this year.

[not5150]

Re: Dealing with the heat...

One trick I learned in Thailand is to keep your clean clothes in the freezer. Change into them when you go outside.

[charliex]

Re: Dealing with the heat...

I'm from the uk and live in vegas(well at least thats where my stuff is), you get used to it. the dryness does help a lot, i'd much rather be in 100-120F vegas than +75F florida or houston.

good thing about vegas is you can mostly move around in AC, casino to casino, taxi, monorail..

also if you've never been, it stays stupid hot all night too, which a lot of people don't expect, but it can be 100+ at night too.

[YenTheFirst]

Re: Dealing with the heat...

Does the heat bring the bugs out to play? The UK bugs seem to think I taste good for some reason, so I expect their (ex-)colonial relatives to be just as insistent...

I've never had a problems with insects in Vegas. Too hot for them, too ;)

[astcell]

Re: Dealing with the heat...

Does the heat bring the bugs out to play? The UK bugs seem to think I taste good for some reason, so I expect their (ex-)colonial relatives to be just as insistent...

I've never noticed. It's so hot that I don't really care.

[Zorlac]

Re: Dealing with the heat...

Does the heat bring the bugs out to play? The UK bugs seem to think I taste good for some reason, so I expect their (ex-)colonial relatives to be just as insistent...

[Dallas]

Re: Dealing with the heat...

We have a saying at Burningman - which is in the Black Rock Desert for 7-8 days.

PISS CLEAR.

the one year (DC17 maybe?) that i spent something like two full weeks in Vegas i was utterly ruined by the end of it... as people have said, the mix of desert heat and sometimes awful air-conditioning drying out the rooms is killer.

i am so glad we are at a nicer place like the Rio this year. the Riv was fun in many ways, but that year i remember my room's air conditioning unit seemed to be from the 60s and made our room drier than a bag of flour. by the time Monday rolled around i was just sitting in the bathroom while the shower ran on full blast, all hot water, trying to steam my lungs and throat back to reality.

on the plus side, i never again get upset about "hot and humid" days. people like to complain occasionally "man, it's warm out... but it's the humidity that's killing me" and i just think "yeah, well at least you can still breathe and swallow food."

hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. you can tell in the bathroom if you are doing so adequately...

Winning
You're Alright
Could Be Better
Yer Doin' It Wrong

... anyone who has been in the service might tell you stories of the color card in a lot of latrines. A lot like the little test kits that you see folk using to check pool chemical levels, it can tell you all you need to know and then advise you of how much water to drink.

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: Dealing with the heat...

the one year (DC17 maybe?) that i spent something like two full weeks in Vegas i was utterly ruined by the end of it... as people have said, the mix of desert heat and sometimes awful air-conditioning drying out the rooms is killer.

i am so glad we are at a nicer place like the Rio this year. the Riv was fun in many ways, but that year i remember my room's air conditioning unit seemed to be from the 60s and made our room drier than a bag of flour. by the time Monday rolled around i was just sitting in the bathroom while the shower ran on full blast, all hot water, trying to steam my lungs and throat back to reality.

on the plus side, i never again get upset about "hot and humid" days. people like to complain occasionally "man, it's warm out... but it's the humidity that's killing me" and i just think "yeah, well at least you can still breathe and swallow food."

hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. you can tell in the bathroom if you are doing so adequately...

Winning
You're Alright
Could Be Better
Yer Doin' It Wrong

... anyone who has been in the service might tell you stories of the color card in a lot of latrines. A lot like the little test kits that you see folk using to check pool chemical levels, it can tell you all you need to know and then advise you of how much water to drink.

[astcell]

Re: Dealing with the heat...

Zorlac, my g/f is from the UK and I took her to Vegas. She was amazed that it was over 100 degrees at 11pm. When the sun is out it is fun for no one. Remember to drink lots of water, stay hydrated! Coffee and alcohol do not count. Also get some sun screen, I will have SPF 50 in a can. Things like wearing a hat or a neck wrap are good ideas but they make you feel better, it does not mean you are better. Keep the water flowing!

[YenTheFirst]

Re: Dealing with the heat...

Depending on the weather, your sweat can evaporate as soon as it's excreted. The practical upshot of this is you don't *feel* like you're sweating, but you are. Be aware of this fact. Hydrate even if you don't feel like you're sweating.

Vegas is a very car-centric town. It's not really dense enough to walk to most places, and there isn't a good public transit system. If you're planning on going somewhere in particular, double-check the walking distance on Google maps or similar.

When you return to the [safe, cool] indoors, I recommend giving your face a wash - you'll feel quite refreshed.

[shrdlu]

Re: Dealing with the heat...

I've lived in desert places most of my life, and I like the heat. I also like not having heat stroke.

Wear light colored loose clothing. Understand that an uncovered body is harder to keep cool. You don't see people in the deserts wearing shorts and wife beaters (or halter tops). They wear loose robes, and those turbans are usually soaked with water before they wrap them to wear in the morning.

Wear a hat. Yes, I know everyone else has also said this, but it's important that you do so. Watch the alcohol intake, if you're not used to the heat, because it will aggravate the dehydration (and affect your judgment).

Get out of the sun, sit down, rest, if you start to feel woozy. Try to be with friends, preferably someone who will notice that you are unusually flushed, or are not sweating (not sweating is bad), or seem disoriented. Sun/heat stroke is serious business.

[Zorlac]

Re: Dealing with the heat...

Ah, neck wraps... I didnt realise they "actively" cooled, I thought they were just a naff fashion statement and soaked up the sweat :) Just ordered one of them.

Nose/eye drops... good call, it didnt even cross my mind. Same for lip balm...

Lots of good advice so far, many thanks...

[eris]

Re: Dealing with the heat...

Get a neck wrap... basically a rolled up towel with some crystals in it to absorb water. Soak it in water and put it in the fridge.

Wear it when you venture outside.

Something like this.

If you can't find something like that, a wet bandanna is useful as well, and you can continually re-wet it. It can be worn around the neck or on the head under a hat. This creates a cooling through evaporation and will be especially useful at the shoot.

Hi Zorlac,

1) I buy drops for my eyes as the heat in Vegas makes my eyes really sore, I get similar with my nose so I have something for that as well. This could be the heat, the air conditioning *everywhere* or both.

Absolutely. Saline drops are better than a chemical drop such as those used to "remove red eye." A good thing for the nose is a product called "Ayr" or similar saline gel. Might help if you have a snoring roommate as well!

2) Hydration is important but try to think about what you are using to hydrate yourself. The need to replace electrolytes is very important especially if combine caffeine, alcohol and that heat!

Another great tip. Water stops being useful for simple hydration in the desert heat, especially out in the open desert. Fluids with electrolytes are absolutely essential. Sports drink such as Gatorade, Vitamin Waters, etc.

3) Hat is a definite, I got the top of my head burned last year and I wasn't out for too long without my hat - it was the middle of the day so I should have known better!

A hat with some kind of brim will also help keep your eyes from drying out quite as fast since you won't be squinting against the bright desert glare.

I would also recommend lotion for your skin. The intense heat pulls moisture from everywhere.

Also, lip balm regardless of how much time you spend outside. Both the heat and the air conditioning will dry your lips to the point they can crack and bleed.

Remember, what you wear matters as well. It may seem like a good idea to wear shorts due to heat, but if you are not used to the sun, any exposed skin becomes a target for sunburn and drying.

[securityninja]

Re: Dealing with the heat...

Hi Zorlac,

I feel your pain - originally from the UK and now in Ireland!

Heat wise I have to say Vegas was nothing like I'd ever experienced before. The things I've learned over the past few years are (that are outside of what you have already listed) listed below:

1) I buy drops for my eyes as the heat in Vegas makes my eyes really sore, I get similar with my nose so I have something for that as well. This could be the heat, the air conditioning *everywhere* or both.

2) Hydration is important but try to think about what you are using to hydrate yourself. The need to replace electrolytes is very important especially if combine caffeine, alcohol and that heat!

3) Hat is a definite, I got the top of my head burned last year and I wasn't out for too long without my hat - it was the middle of the day so I should have known better!

SN