John D’Angelo: a senior in criminology and criminal justice, attempts to shield himself from the summer heat with an umbrella. Rising temperatures cause students to come up with innovative ways to stay cool. The summer heat wave has stifled the Southeast. Lindsey Davids
Summer has not even officially begun, and temperatures are already into the high 90s in Auburn and surrounding areas.
With the real summer just around the corner, what are students doing to beat, or at least escape, the tumultuous heat?
It is not enough to wear just a tank and shorts. Auburn students are finding creative ways to cool off.
Everett Duke, a junior in business administration, said he is a fan of the strawberry limeades at Sonic.
“The biggest way I beat the heat is I go to Sonic’s Happy Hour,” Duke said. “I go everyday. It keeps me cool and refreshed.”
Duke said he also keeps his window unit on full blast, showers twice a day to keep fresh and does not wear many layers of clothing.
Laura Barton, a senior in political science, is also a fan of cool treats.
“Lately I have been eating a lot of Popsicles that really cool me off,” Barton said. “But everywhere I go, I always have a bottle of ice-cold water with me.”
Most students who are taking summer courses take advantage of the cool climate when sitting through class.
“I like to stay indoors,” Duke said. “I’m pretty cool when I am in class, which is enjoyable.”
Heather Healy, a senior in accounting, is completing her internship in Columbus and said it works out great because her job keeps her indoors all day.
“I stay inside as much as possible, and I crank up the air conditioner in my car,” Healy said. “I also go to the pool on the weekends, and I drink water most of the time.”
For the students who refuse to spend their summer days indoors, they can take the short drive to Surfside Water Park located on South College Street.
Surfside is complete with a wave pool, water slides and a lazy river. A perk for college students is the discount they receive when they present their college I.D. at admission.
With the discount, students can pay almost $10 less than the general day rate, according to Surfside’s Web site, www.surfsidewaterpark.com.
But even with these solutions of escaping the summer heat, everyone should be aware of the signs of being overheated.
According to www.healthatoz.com, these include, but are not limited to, dizziness, fatigue, nausea or vomiting, headache, rapid or shallow breathing and rapid heartbeat.
Avoid exercising outdoors mid to late afternoon, when the temperature is at its hottest.
Always remember to stay hydrated, but avoid drinks like alcohol and carbonated or caffeinated beverages, because these dehydrate the body rather than rehydrate it.
Lastly, everyone should know their limits because not everyone responds to heat the same way, and everyone should work to maintain their health at all times.
