Texas Heat Survival: Tips I Live By Every Summer to Stay Cool

If you’ve lived in West Texas long enough, you know one thing for sure, it gets hot enough out here to fry an egg on the sidewalk. This summer has been no exception, with temperatures soaring and humidity making it feel even hotter.

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Why the Heat Hits Home for Me

For me, the heat isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s personal. I was on my nebulizer earlier today doing a breathing treatment, and it reminded me that heat and health don’t always mix. Add three radio shows, four commercials, and a couple of articles to the list, and yeah, I start to feel like I’m heating up myself.

Three Simple Rules I Live By

But here’s the deal, we West Texans know how to fight back against the sun. Here are some of the ways I keep going:

• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate - I drink about two gallons of water every single day, plus at least two bottles of sugar-free Gatorade to keep electrolytes in balance. I even keep cases of water in the control room at my radio station so guests coming in from the heat can rehydrate during interviews.
• Check on people and pets - I only let our pets out for about 20 minutes to do their business and make sure they don’t overheat. Beyond pets, it’s important to check on kids and elderly neighbors, too. And as I’ve said before, never leave them, or anything important, in a hot car.
• Find your shade - Years ago, I planted oak, pine, and fast-growing ash trees around the house. Now, 25 to 35 feet tall, they give me the kind of shade you want to park your car under. That shade makes a difference not just for me, but for everyone in the family.

Read More: Texas Warden Says This Labor Day Weekend Know Your Boating Safety

West Texans Stick Together

At the end of the day, this is West Texas, we take the heat, and we keep going. It’s part of what makes us tough. As long as we look out for each other, we’ll keep proving the Big Country is more than just a place to live, it’s a community that weathers every storm and every heat wave together.