Dubai: Some residents are finding ingenious ways to beat the summer heat — from mini fans to cooling vests — or whatever they could get their hands on.
With the mercury in the high 40s even in coastal areas like Dubai, and reaching 50s in desert areas, commuters and workers exposed to the summer heat for relatively long periods find respite only when they get indoors.
Compound it with high humidity levels and a typical afternoon can feel like 48C to 50C, sometimes 55C on bad days.
This is why some resourceful residents have made their summers more bearable through different gadgets and other traditional summer gear.
There are those who you’ll find with quirky rechargeable mini hand fans while waiting for their buses in non-shaded bus stops.
“At first, there were just a few of us who use it. Now almost all the women waiting for the bus in my area have one,” Maja G., a customer service representative, told Gulf News. “It’s better than having nothing at all or just a manual fan as your arms may get tired. Your Dh25 to Dh35 spend gives you big relief in extremely hot days.”
Apart from the rechargeable fans, there are those who have mini USB fans that can be plugged into smartphone, she said.
Those working in construction may not have the luxury of having these portable fans but they do sport some breathable face covers — from just below the eyes down to the entire neck — to beat the heat.
“We have these face covers for our protection and to keep us from getting dehydrated. The heat from the sun is intense but that’s not just it. The heat given off by the ground beneath us makes it even worse. The face covers gives us a bit of relief,” Joebert Salazar, QA-QC engineer, who has had six summers in the UAE, said.
Others are lucky as their companies provide them with cooling vests, like in the case of Edmer Mellijor and his colleagues. The cooling vests are worn on top of their uniform and is designed to keep the body’s core temperature down when the ambient temperature is high.
“Our company provides us with continuous protection and the cooling vest is one of them. It is helpful in keeping us cool despite the heat,” Mellijor, safety officer at Gulf Environment and Waste in Jebel Ali, said. “Although it’s not too practical to use all the time, it still helps.”
Other available cooling products in the market are UV umbrellas, thermal garments, cooling towels, cooling gels that can be inserted inside pillowcases and clothes, face mists, among others.
These may help bring instant relief because they artificially help regulate body temperature when in use, said Dr Musa Azhar, Internal Medicine specialist at Medcare Sharjah Hospital.
“The fans are used next to the body so it prevents heat from escaping or entering the body. But there is not much literature to support this claim; it’s all evidence-based or anecdotal at the moment,” Dr Azhar said.
“The best way to keep one’s self safe in the heat is to we wear loose and light-coloured clothing, stay hydrated by drinking water and consuming fruits, have small but frequent meals if working outside, and avoid staying outdoors at peak hours,” he said.
