The Hot List (for people in heat wave areas)
To do list before heat wave arrives in NJ tomorrow/Wed.:
1) Snip or pull any weeds close to the house.
2) Retrieve 2 more fans from basement, clean, and set them up.
3) Shop for foods that are good cold or raw: little if any cooking.
4) Cook pasta for other hot weather dishes.
5) Get ice machine out and working.
6) Water all plants at garden and cover plant base with mulch. Provide protection from hot sun with screens.
If you've already been through the heat wave, what worked for you?
What didn't I think of?
If you are experiencing the heat wave in the next few days, what's on your list?
= new reply since forum marked as read
I am currently sitting outdoors in shade (western NY). Humidity is down today from yesterday and occasional breezes make it tolerable. Temp is 83, feels like 89.
We have lot of cloudiness which provides relief from the sun, until the clouds drift again.
I have a tumbler of ice water with me and a wide umbrella, the kind that you find at golf courses or the beach. Don't need to use it now bc of clouds, but last summer, it came in handy when we had a heat wave. I live in easy walking distance of a few stores so the umbrella blocks the sun when going out to buy something. Yes, I try to get buying done before the heat wave, but there always seems to be something I forgot.
A TIP: If you have AC, turning it on a low setting (higher temp setting) in the morning keeps the place comfortable for later in the afternoon. Close blinds and curtains early.
If you don't have AC, keep blinds and curtains closed all day, starting in the morning. Set up cold water in front of a fan and turn the fan up. Take a shower in cooler than usual water and let yourself and your hair dry naturally. Repeat if getting too hot again.
Don't eat a lot of sweets or drink sweet beverages. Sugar will make you feel hotter. I make an exception for ice cream, which feels great on hot days. 
I learned a few things about staying cool-ish.
Keep a spray bottle of water handy so you can spritz yourself when needed, especially when it's really dry,may not help in humid places.
Eat melons! Watery ones. Watermelon, cantaloup, cucumbers, etc.. Make salads with them and snack on them during the day. The thing about melons is that they can reduce your body temperature (works when you have a fever too) and re-hydrate you with natural electrolytes.
Keep a wet towel or some kind of cloth handy to place around the back of your neck, cover your whole back, legs or whatever to help you stay cool.
At night, wash your feet before trying to go to sleep, it will help you go to sleep.
Try to have fans available to use for keeping air moving in your environment.
And all the advice mentioned in the posts above.
And long naps in it. Heat index is 105 here today in southern KY. This, after several days of mean thunderstorms and flooding (10 inches of rain!) More thunderstorms predicted end of the week.
Living on a farm with animals to take care of, you don't have any choice about going outside though. Best for early morning, and evenings for chores. Making sure everybody has plenty of water and flyspray throughout the day (including me.)
I roasted a turkey yesterday, so I see lots of cold turkey sandwiches in our future.
Take care, and stay cool, ya'll!