{"562661":{"#nid":"562661","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Summer in the City: How to Stay Cool in the Atlanta Heat","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EThe fall semester may have begun, but it\u2019s still the peak of summer heat and humidity in Atlanta. How are you supposed to get to and from class, work, and campus meetings without constantly toweling off?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EFor Jess Hunt-Ralston, senior designer in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering who bikes to work, thinking \u201clike a hiker\u201d is key.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003E\u201cStay hydrated, stick to shaded areas, and wear a hat,\u201d she said. \u201cI often wear a tank top or T-shirt on my commute, with a sweater packed in my bag for the office.\u201d For those who walk, bike, or take transit, she also suggested wearing athletic clothes for the commute and packing work clothes to change into once on campus.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EOne group whose job it is to be outside at Georgia Tech Landscape Services team. Each year, the team meets with Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) at the beginning of the summer for a reminder of important tips for safety in the heat and how to identify heat illness. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003E\u201cWe perform the hardest tasks that are in full sun in the morning, and tasks in shaded areas in the afternoon,\u201d said Hyacinth Ide, associate director for Landscape Services and Fleet Services. Employees are also encouraged to wear sunscreen and get plenty of rest at night, and are provided hats and cotton clothing. EHS advises that they wear loose, lightweight clothing made of cotton or cotton blends that let air circulate and can wick sweat off the skin. They also suggest avoiding dark-colored clothing, as light colors will reflect the heat and help keep you cool. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EOther materials that are good for the heat include linen, silk, hemp, or even lightweight wool.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech tour guides also spend much of their time outside. These student employees work with Undergraduate Admission to lead visitors from around the world on campus tours, and summer is as busy a season as any \u2014 but they are prepared.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003E\u201cWe remind everyone before their visit to wear loose-fitting clothing and comfortable walking shoes, as the tour is nearly two miles,\u201d said Elyse Lawson, senior admission counselor who coordinates campus visits. \u201cWhen talking to visitors at length, tour guides try to always stop inside air-conditioned buildings or at least in the shade. During the summer, we provide all visitors with bottled water as they head out on tours.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EHaving a handy supply of products in a desk drawer or office cubby can provide a quick refresh before class or a meeting. Deodorant, oil-absorbing sheets, and face cleansing towelettes should all be components of a refresh kit.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EThe Georgia Tech \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/bees.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EUrban Honey Bee Project\u003C\/a\u003E offers a beeswax lip balm for $2, made from honey harvested on the roof of the Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons. Barnes \u0026amp; Noble @ Georgia Tech has several hats and water bottles that can be useful for the summer months to stay shaded and hydrated.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EHunt-Ralston even makes her own salt spray, which can provide a quick cooldown after a hot walk. The formula is a 1:4 ratio of sea salt to hot water, shaken until dissolved, and kept in a spray bottle for easy use.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003E\u201cSalt spray will soak up oil and sweat on your face, so if you have dry skin, you may want to switch to Epsom salt, which will absorb sweat while also hydrating your skin,\u201d she said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EIn the summer, you are what you eat. EHS advises that hot, heavy meals can add heat to the body and divert blood to the digestive system that could otherwise be helping the body cool down. Eating light, cool meals can help on days when you may work up a sweat.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EIt may almost be time for fall semester, but it\u2019s still the peak of summer heat and humidity in Atlanta. How are you supposed to get to and from class, work, and campus meetings without constantly toweling off?\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"It may almost be time for fall semester, but it\u2019s still the peak of summer heat and humidity in Atlanta."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2016-08-15 10:36:53","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:22:19","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2016-08-15T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2016-08-15T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"562651":{"id":"562651","type":"image","title":"Summer in the City","body":null,"created":"1471271729","gmt_created":"2016-08-15 14:35:29","changed":"1475895367","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:56:07","alt":"Summer in the City","file":{"fid":"206801","name":"ebb-heat.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/ebb-heat.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/ebb-heat.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2428841,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/ebb-heat.jpg?itok=uBGunRKk"}}},"media_ids":["562651"],"groups":[{"id":"1259","name":"Whistle"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"435","name":"heat"},{"id":"172260","name":"hot"},{"id":"167076","name":"summer"},{"id":"4152","name":"whistle"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:kristen.bailey@comm.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EKristen Bailey\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EInstitute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}