WE AREN’T USED to sure gloriously sunny and hot weather in Ireland so sometimes it is hard to know what to do to beat the heat when we are stuck in a car and the mercury keeps rising.

Not all cars have air-con and opening the windows when you are going nowhere fast in Irish hour traffic won’t do much to help you keep your cool.

But I have picked up some tips and tricks, learnt from my time spent behind the wheel driving in hot climates.

Do drink (water) and drive

Make sure you have loads of water in your car to keep you hydrated. This will also help keep you alert in the heat and regulate your body temperature, especially if the water is cold. Get yourself a cool bag or little ice-box and keep the water in there.

Some cars now come with air-conditioned glove boxes which are perfect for keeping drinks cool.

Buy a metal refillable bottle, they are better for the environment and are great for keeping drinks cool. You can also freeze bottles of water and wrap them in a towel to keep them cooler for longer.

Wear sunscreen

Most car windscreens block out UVB light which causes sunburn and UVA light that cause skin damage. However, most side and rear windows don’t block out the UVA rays.

So make sure you and any passengers onboard wear a broad spectrum high SPF that blocks UVA rays.

Try to buy an oil-free formula so you don’t ruin the car seats and so your hands don’t slip on the steering wheel. When putting on the suncream make sure you cover the backs of your hands, as this is where the sun can hit the most.

Cool the air

Wet a few cloths with cold water and keep them in a lunch box or sandwich bag. Hang one of the wet cloths over one of the car’s air vents. This will help cool the air down but you’ll have to replace the cloth as it dries out.

Get fanning

Buy a solar-powered mini fan or two and stick them on the dashboard. These low-tech highly cooling gadgets can make all the difference, even on the hottest summer days. You can get them for a couple of euro online or in bargain stores.

Shady behaviour 

You won’t feel as overwhelmed by the heat if you don’t have to touch hot vinyl or leather surfaces. So, to prevent your car from getting scorchio, park in the shade, use a windscreen shade and mesh blinds for the side windows. This should reduce the feeling of getting into an oven when you get back into the car again.

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