How to keep cool in this year's extreme summer heat even without air conditioning
As global temperatures rise, experts share practical, low-cost methods for staying cool without air conditioning. Drawing on traditional practices from the Global South, the advice emphasizes hydration and heat-stroke awareness.
Why it matters
With extreme heat becoming a global health crisis, accessible cooling strategies are increasingly vital for vulnerable populations.
Malaka Gharib/NPR It's a summer of extreme heat around much of the world.
I know what that feels like. In Uttar Pradesh, India, where I grew up, temperatures easily soar upward of 120 degrees in May and June. But few people have access to an air conditioner. With a per capita income of around $1,000 a year, many people in this part of the country can't afford to buy an AC unit or pay the power bills that come with using one.
Weather The days are hot, but so are the nights. That's a problem, experts say So how do people keep cool?
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