What did they do before air conditioning?

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

It's been a bit of a hot summer. Really oppresive in California and the Southwest, and some real heat waves in the plains too. Phoenix has reached 117, but so has Pierre SD. The NW had some heat too, eastern Washington reached 113. LA County saw a reading of 119.



With all the deaths in California and other places blamed on heat, is it because we've become such an air-conditioned society that we've become thermal wimps? Is it that much hotter than most of the inhabited time periods before air conditioning? Maybe it's the hot temps combined with humidity from agriculture? All the above?



There were times in the past with intense heat. I wonder what people did in the old days to stay cool? 34 of the 50 US States set their all-time record high temperatures before 1940, and only 4 since 1990, so there's definitely been some oppresive heat in the past.



I can't imagine not having AC, but I'd like to think I could survive without it.

How tough are you guys?

 

[big jake 1]

Friday was the first day here it has been below 100*F for a maximum high in 2 weeks, it got as high as 112.



The local news said the current heat wave has cost about 150 lives here in CA alone, and thousands of poultry and livestock have been lost as well.



The AC has been cranking since early summer, I work nights and get off work at 0130, I could not survive without it.



Its going to feel like winter later on here today, only going to be in the mid 80s.









big jake



THE FORD GUY Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[klenger]

It's all George Bush's fault, so it wasn't a problem before he stole the election in 2000.



I wonder if it's the older people who are likely to die from the heat. 100 years ago, people didn't live as long as they do now, so maybe the deaths are higher now because of older ages. Around here, some people wear jackets when it's 95 out.

 

[AMink]

34 of the 50 US States set their all-time record high temperatures before 1940, and only 4 since 1990

That can't be right! There's global warming now and everything is going to melt! :-laf And when all the cities are under water, they'll complain they're wet.



I remember visiting my grandmother in the late 60's and early 70's in Nevada, before I moved here, and it was hot as heck back then too. There were probably newspaper articles that are interchangeable with todays. I think it has something to do with how close the earth is to the sun and that thing called summer.



I would guess that years ago, the buildings weren't as tight as they are now. Some of them today, if you fart, the windows rattle. There is not ventilation, thus they get hot. The big buildings don't even have windows that open anymore. I think folks are used to complaining more now than then too. I never remember my gma complaining when it was hot. All she'd say is that it was hotter some other time, get over it! Tougher mindset.

 

[Cummins Pilot]

I know I'm a wimp when it comes to heat. It only gets to about 85-90f where I live and thats too much. I can't take heat, I was made for cold. I'd take -40f over 80f any day of the week. Anything over about 65f and I'm miserable.



How do people work in heat like that??? There isn't a way to beat the heat when your job keeps you outside in it. I used to load airplanes and when I was low man on the totem pole I was pushing pallets inside and airplane that would hit 120f sometimes. I couldn't barely function. It was much nicer when I became an operator and didn't have to be in the plane. Now I have a job that can take me places where ive seen it hit -74f. Much better than 90f.

 

[klenger]

My FIL, who also lives in Fairbanks, commented one winter that the outside temps were -20F. His complaint was "what good is winter if it's too warm to play outside". I consider our hot summer weather here in Tucson to be a good trade-off for the snow. Been there, done that, shoveled it, hate it (although snowshoeing is fun).

 

[AMink]

I agree with you, Cummins Pilot. Anything above 85 and I definately slow down. I'd rather be in a half frozen swamp in the rain hunting ducks than at a beach when it's 95!

 

[Headshot zod]

Older people don't deal with heat like younger people do. Ask them to take their jackets off, you may save their life.

 

[azpete]

Before I transferred to my current job I worked construction for 20 years. Working in pits we would have contests to see who could last the longest into the summer before getting out the umbrella for shade. The company wouldn't buy trucks with AC until just afew years ago. Two hour drives from Gila Bend at 115 deg. were not too comfortable.



The way I always looked at it, the heat can get uncomfortable but cold hurts.

 

[rbattelle]

Older people don't deal with heat like younger people do. Ask them to take their jackets off, you may save their life.

:-laf



I love heat! I'm a pretty thin guy, so that might help (little or no insulation on my body). I had the opportunity to be in Arizona back in July '05 (I visited Klenger) and I loved it!



The key is to drink plenty of water.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

The key is to drink plenty of water.

Better yet..... jump in. :-laf



I'm one of those thermally adapted individuals also. Sometimes theres benies to being scrawny. But during the winter I've got to keep moving, moving, moving before I turn into an icicle. That mean just say no to ice fishing... . learned that the hard way



Rode out of Deer Creek Pass (now that was a parched ride) and rolled through Cody on the way back to Blackrock last Thursday evening and it was 97 at 1830 :{ But it was a dry heat :-laf I know, I know the border collies didn't catch the humor either



Plus, it kept the Hells Angels convention inside and off the streets so the women and children were safe for a spell... . unless they were in the bars too.



Therefore, since it is too hot to cut firewood, I'm going to take the inflatable kayak over to GTNP String Lake for a soak this afternoon..... sigh.

 

[rbattelle]

But during the winter I've got to keep moving, moving, moving before I turn into an icicle.

Oh, I hate cold weather! I could freeze to death in 5 minutes below 40F.



Ryan

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Same here, I'd much rather have 112 than zero any day! Fueling up in Cheyenne this past February was NOT fun! The high winds at 10 degrees just goes right through ya, but I'm not acclimated to weather like that.



Another thing about this air conditioned society. . . before AC became commonplace, cities in hot climates such as Phoenix and Vegas were not that populated. If there wasn't such a thing as AC I wonder how different the US population would be today and how differently it would be dispersed.



Vaughn

 

[WDixon27]

summer in the south sucks and winter ain't much more fun with our nasty humidity, i think it feels less hot at 95* and 40% then it does when it's 80* and 85% humidity, and i swear 35* here feels worse then 0* in new york state

 

[Bill Lins]

Well, I can tell ya, Houston wouldn't be QUITE as crowded!



I spent my teenaged years in deep South Texas- no A/C, but the older houses had high ceilings, ceiling & attic fans, double-hung windows, and they were sited to take advantage of prevailing breezes. The old-time builders knew how to ventilate a house- didn't help much with the humidity, though. :-(

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Well back from the "soak". Decided to float the Snake from Moran to Deadman Bar instead. Nice



But... . no one would pick me up and give me a ride back to the vehicle. So I ended up walking the eleven miles back to Moran. A lot of good the soak did.



Aint it just awful not only to be scrawny, but also bu++ ugly, and nasty mean looking to boot.

 

[KBennett]

I like the heat better than the cold, the first ten years of my life were in Florida. If I can work in the shade then I am comfortable.



The air conditioning in our house is set for 78 and has been running quite a bit the last couple weeks.



I was at a customer's the other day that extrudes vinyl fencing. It was 98 outside and they had the doors open. I don't know how those guys could stand next to the big band heaters on the machines and work, must have been 120 in some areas.

 

[RandyHamilton]

I was 13 by the time I lived in a house with AC

Couldn't afford either the air window air conditioner or the electricity to run it. . We had TREES in our yard for shade, helping keep the house cool. We kept our DOORS and WINDOWS OPEN the fans blowing and the old folks (great-uncle, grandmother, etc. . ) would set out on the porch with a hand held fan in one hand and a fly swatter in the other and complain about how hot it was!!

 

[Cummins Pilot]

I agree with you, Cummins Pilot. Anything above 85 and I definately slow down. I'd rather be in a half frozen swamp in the rain hunting ducks than at a beach when it's 95!

That season is coming soon!! And moose season.



Last march running truck across Wyoming on I-90 I stopped for fuel and I was the only one who stood there with the fuel nozzle. All the other guys where in their cabs. I'll agree the wind can make it cool. All I had on were jeans, t shirt and a Carhart winter jacket. I stood there to wake myself up since I was getting somewhat tired. Earlier in the day I started in Clinton Missouri and it was about 80f. I was happy to get rolling.

 

[JR2]

I am like the rest of the Alaska guys, I prefer 20 deg to 100. Today at work it was 40 degrees and raining and I was sweating like mad.



I think as a society we have become wimps. I remember my Grandfather telling me that maybe tomorrow would be better when I complained about the heat. Back in the good old days people just delt with the temp. They did not complain or wine.