Please help me keep cool in my hot flat

[Megapops]

I live in an over insulated block of flats and im perimenopasal - so yes I'm struggling in the heat. My windows only open ajar as I'm on the 5th floor. I woke up last night at 2am so hot I couldn't breathe, I felt like I was on fire, my arms were all numb and i was uncontrollably shivering for about an hour. Either I just overheated or think the heat had triggered a panic attack? I slept the rest of the night with a cold flannel on my head which helped a bit. I also have two fans on the go.

It's currently 30C in here at 8am and I'm dreading the next few days. I've got nowhere else I can go. I was looking at hotels and Airbnbs but most around my area are £180+ a night which I can't afford for 2-3 nights. I have to work (remotely) so can't just sit outside in the shade somewhere all day unfortunately. I live quite far from any town centre and dont drive so cant really just pop over to work or chill in a nice airconditioned Starbucks either. Any tips or advice to cope with the next few days would be greatly appreciated.

Can you get something to cover the outside of your windows to try and stop the heat getting in to your flat?

I love in flat top and planning on waking up really early to open everything up and get it as cool as possible before closing windows and curtains at 7am. I've attached black out curtains to the outside of the windows (as best I can) and blackout curtains inside. Loads of ice ready, bath will be filled to sit in if needed. If it does get really hot then I'm just going to have to tell work I need a couple of hours to cool down and get a taxi to the big Tesco and sit in their cafe for a bit.

Spray bottle of water kept in the fridge to spray yourself with
Chill water to drink in fridge/uses below
Start making lots of ice now. Tip cubes into a box when frozen and keep making it so you have a big pile ready for tomorrow
Hot water bottle filled with ice cubes and cold water
Basin on cold water to put your feet in
Fan
Wet sheet to lie under
Kitchen foil on windows to keep sun out. It sticks to damp glass

I'd concentrate on blacking out your windows as much as possible.

Being well insulated should actually help you stay cool because you'll get less heat conducting through the walls and roof - it's like a thermos flask that keeps cold contents cool or hot contents hot. So you need to work on avoiding making heat inside (reduce cooking etc) and stopping heat from outside getting in through convection and radiation by using your windows as much as possible. You need to block light getting through windows when the sun is on them (with foil on the outside if that won't cause a traffic hazard, cardboard if not), close the windows when the air is hot and open them (possibly your flat door as well as yours don't open much) when the air is cooler than inside. Finally, have lots of to drink and consider what you can do to cool your bed to help you sleep - I put my son to bed last night with a hot water bottle that had spent the day in the fridge to cool down. I've not tried the putting your sheets in the fridge/freezer trick but am tempted!

Keep your windows covered all day.

Run the cold tap over your wrists.

Place a basin of cold water in front of the fan

Drape a damp sheet in front of the windows when they're open

If you wake up in the middle of the night feeling hot, a damp flannel on the back of the neck helps.
I've also heard you can place water with ice cubes in front of a fan for a cooling effect, no idea if this works though.

When the temp is cooler outside, put fans by open windows.
As it starts heating up, shut the windows and curtains.
Keep having cold water, take quick cold showers.

If it's hotter outside than in then shut the windows and draw the curtains.

I can't quite understand why people keep the windows open. They wouldn't in winter if it's colder out than in.

Cold bath whenever you need and fans on in the rooms you use.

I feel you. I dreaded this week so much I've given up and gone to mums on the coast. I wfh and there were a few days last year I was so desperate and felt so sick I sat in a cold bath with the laptop on the toilet seat and worked from there.

My best tips are get some 750ml water bottles and keep them in the freezer. When you take one out, cool yourself down with it - between your thighs is amazing the ice melts quickly and you can drink it, top up with tap water until the ice has almost melted then replace with another bottle.

See also hot water bottle in the freezer.

Get a fan.

Early in the morning use the fan to blow hot air OUT of your windows / door. Then close them and pull on curtains / down blinds.

You need to get the flat, or at least one room cool, and then keep it that way.

Put spare clothes in the fridge both to change into later and a set of PJs.

Have a cool shower.

Consider showering in a T shirt and wearing it as it dries.

Try the rolled up wet towel around the back of the neck - I find it works.

Consider getting a portable AC.

Only cook using the microwave or the oven and only in the evening.

If you can have a break change clothes and lie down for an hour or two between 12 and 3.

We went to Italy once in a June in a heat wave!!

The only thing for me was getting into tepid water and gradually going cooler and cooler... untill quite cold and i was properly cooled down.