Stay safe and sane as NYC weather turns extremely hot, humid this week

To quote modern philosopher Nelly: it’s getting hot in here.

Tuesday’s forecast shows a high of 94 degrees with a whopping 60 to 67 percent humidity. Now that summer has officially started, New Yorkers are using their best strategies to deal with the hot and humid weather.

“I work in an air conditioned office,” said Alexis Goldberg, 32, an employee for a network of public schools called Urban Assembly. “I just go from air condition to air condition so I don’t have to deal with it.”

In case you can’t play AC hopscotch, here’s a few tips to save you and your armpits the dread of never ending sweat:

Chug, chug, chug! Drink plenty of water. The more you sweat the faster you’ll become dehydrated. By staying on top of your water consumption you don’t run this risk and you can cool off at the same time.
Cool your pulse points. Run water or press a cold compress onto your wrists to help lower your overall body temperature.
Turn off the lights and unplug electronics not in use. They give off heat and will make your living space a lot warmer than it has to be.
Wear light colored clothes, reported the NYC Health Department. Following the Albedo Effect, darker colors absorb heat while lighter colors reflect it. Also wear cotton, which absorbs perspiration and helps you feel colder faster.
Freeze! Or in this case, refrigerate. Chilling your lotions before you put them on will help cool your body and make stepping outside a little more bearable.

Other tried-and-true tips include shopping in air-conditioned stores and enjoying the AC on the subway train – granted that you can find one that’s working and empty.

Metro reporter Yalda Mostajeran weighs in:

My personal favorite method to keep cool is to be single. I’ll be offered an icy beverage at the bar, I’m more likely to find an air-conditioned seat on the subway for a party of one and I don’t have to share a bed with anyone so there’s less body heat to deal with. It’s every man – or woman – for themselves this summer.