If we’re gonna talk about some hard work that often goes noticed, we need to talk about the United States Postal Service.

These ladies and gentlemen keep snail mail alive and well by enduring rain, snow, brutally hot, and brutally cold weather. Let’s focus on summer. The mail vehicles often don’t have air conditioning, and the only respite they get from the heat is… well, they don’t get respite. They’re in the heat all day long, day after day. To stay (literally) alive and well, they have to stay proactive about the heat!

We found a subReddit where USPS workers shared some tips for staying well in the heat and preventing heat stroke. We read through these tips and thought they’d be awesome to share as advice for staying cool at Disney World — another spot where many people spend all day in the heat and on their feet. Without further ado, here are 7 ways to beat the heat according to U.S. mail carriers.

Hydrate early and often.

It takes a long time for water to get where it needs to go. One USPS worker stated that they start hydrating the night before a long day at work, and over the course of the next 24 hours, they consume one to two gallons of water.

Remember to spread this out. Chugging too much water can lead to water intoxication which is just as harmful as extreme dehydration.

Use a cooling towel.

We talk about cooling towels ALL the time. We always say that they are the ONE effective thing when it comes to staying cool.

These are so lightweight and easy to carry around the parks, and you can easily rewet them in a spare cup of water.

Click here to grab some cooling towels on Amazon

Use ice water in a mist sprayer.

Similar to the cooling towels is the mister! There are all sorts of misting fans that you can grab online, and they come in handy when you’re trying to stay cool.

Using ice water to create the mist is a great way to take it to the next level.

Click here to grab a mister off Amazon. No, not THAT kind of mister. Sorry. Misting FAN.

Adhere to a water schedule.

A great way to make sure you’re drinking enough water is to set an alarm to tell you when to chug! Maybe have a competition with your kiddos to see who can drink the MOST water in 20 seconds once or twice an hour.

Remember, though, consuming too much water is NOT a good thing, so be careful here.

Drink electrolytes.

In high heat, water alone won’t cut it. You’ll need electrolytes to help replenish what your body has lost in sweat. LiquidIV, Gatorade, and even salty snacks and foods high in potassium can help a ton.

We prefer LiquidIV because you can order it in bulk off Amazon and it tucks nicely into your smaller park bags. It’s also so easy to toss into a cup of free ice water from quick service locations.

Click here to grab some LiquidIV on Amazon

Carbs before, but not during!

A lot of the mail persons recommended having a larger, carb-heavy breakfast before your long day in the sun, but sticking to hydrating foods for the other two meals.

Salads, fruit, smoothies, wraps — things with fruit and vegetables that contain hydrating components are a great idea! Just make sure to pair it with a protein so that you stay full. And, since you carb loaded at breakfast time, you’ll have plenty of energy to beat the heat.

Salty snacks — in moderation.

This might sound counterintuitive, but just like drinking electrolytes is important, it can also be beneficial to have a salty snack between breakfast and lunch, and then again between lunch and dinner.

Don’t overdo it, here, or else you’ll just be even thirstier. Having a salty but nutritious snack is the way to go! Sunflower seeds, lightly salted nuts, salted rice cakes — you get the idea. (Oh, and a Mickey pretzel probably wouldn’t hurt!)

We hope that you were able to learn a few things from the USPS about staying well in the heat. We’ll continue to keep you updated with more Disney news, advice, and reviews, so make sure to follow along for more.

Click here for more tips on beating the heat at Disney World! 

 

Do you have any other tips on staying cool and hydrated at Disney World? Share them below!