Camping - tips to cope with heat

[kirinm]

I'm camping this weekend at 31+4 and am freaking out about the temperature. It's forecast to be 29-30 degrees. We are at a wedding. Part of it appears to be in a barn.

I don't know if I'm worrying unduly and am getting too anxious but I'm really worried I'll get heat stroke or dehydrated. From a google maps picture, it looks as if there are some trees so we will set our tent up under those if possible but the rest of the space looks pretty open.

My plans so far are:

1. Light clothing and flip flops to accommodate the swelling.
2. Factor 50
3. Try and find a hat (I seem to have a large head)
4. Battery powered fan for early morning in the tent
5. Sitting in the shade as much as that proves possible and
6. Drink LOTS of water.

Is that going to be enough? Any other tips?

Take a parasol for portable shade?

We were camping last weekend - I basically did everything you're planning to and was fine. Just make sure you keep drinking water and stay in the shade as much as possible.

What I would say is that we completely underestimated how much it cooled down overnight, so while I was absolutely boiling during the day, I was freezing overnight and really should have taken more blankets and more substantial clothing to sleep in. We were on a large family scout camp and lots of other people made the same mistake, so just make sure you have warm things with you for the evenings, better to have them and not need them than be shivering all night like I was!

I'm camping at a festival next weekend and have the same worries. I've just ordered a cooling sheet from Amazon to lie on. I might not need it at night but I'm hoping it will be lovely to pop back to the tent in the day and lie on it in the shade.

I'm also going to take a gel eye mask to use in the morning. Camping gives me a puffy face at the best of times, goodness knows how it will be when pregnant.

Lots of water is the right approach. If you start to feel too warm cold running water on your wrists can be really refreshing.

I know it's not ideal wedding guest behaviour but I'd research air conditioned venues nearby (large supermarket if desperate). If you are really struggling consider taking a bit of time out in aircon to get your breath back

Keep a facecloth with you to soak in cold water and hold over your face/feet/wherever.

Do you absolutely have to camp? I like camping, just back from a weekend of it, but no way would I have done it pregnant. It is cool at night though and with a cosy sleeping bag you'll be ok. Bring earplugs though... The dawn chorus is a killer!

Just dont go,say your not feeling well enough or if you do really want to go then book into a travel lodge or something like that.
Fuck camping its crap, either your boiled alive, bitten by midges or frozen to death.

Yes, ear plugs and a sleep mask, that way you stand a slim chance of not being woken up at the crack of dawn by light/birds. Good luck OP!

I don't mind camping at all - but good call on the ear plugs and eye mask. It's just the heat that bothers me. We have a double thickness air bed, my pregnancy pillow and I'm not that uncomfortable yet. Also thanks for the reminder about cold nights, will pack an extra blanket.

Op, regarding the heat. You can get handheld fans that hold a little wet sponge inside them, so the air they blow out is much cooler than a normal fan. I had one for labour and it was fab. Might be worth considering?

Will you have electric hook up. If so I'd take a fan. You could also try a cooling towel that you refresh by wetting.

Is staying nearby in a hotel (with air con) really not an option?

I've ordered a fan and amazon primed it so it'll be here tomorrow! There'll be electricity but it'll be via a generator for the actual wedding so can't take my industrial fan that I'm currently using in my bedroom.

Worst case scenario, I'll be about 35 mins drive from a house I can stay in if it's horrendous.

What fan did you order, OP?

I’m going to be in the same boat in a few weeks time, so am eager for all these tips!

@DrMantisToboggan I bought this one as it has reasonable reviews

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Miady-7-5-inch-Rechargeable-Personal-4000mAh/dp/B07742KSL6/ref=mpssa113?ie=UTF8&qid=1530743633&sr=8-3&pi=ACSX2366SY340QL65&keywords=battery+powered+fan&dpPl=1&dpID=519aV5qsArL&ref=plSrch