Welcome to Cool Down Moments. Tonight, we’re diving into one simple ritual that might save your life—and lift your mood—when the heat becomes unbearable. I’m talking about dousing your whole body in cold water every night. As one writer explains, “There is no more effective way to bring down your body temperature than with cold water,” and while full immersion in ice water is fastest, a humble bucket or pail by your shower can offer nearly instant relief.

Beyond comfort, cold-water dousing can chase away what psychiatrist Norman E. Rosenthal calls “summertime SAD,” an irritable, agitated kind of depression brought on by sweltering days. Anecdotal reports suggest that a quick plunge or bucket splash can shift your mood almost immediately.

It’s also a proven method to prevent heatstroke. Douglas Casa of the Korey Stringer Institute calls cold-water immersion the “gold standard” for treating exertional heatstroke and notes that if you cool someone down within 30 minutes, “survivability has been 100%.”

So tonight, grab a bucket, fill it with cold tap water or ice if you have it, and douse your legs, arms, neck, and back. It’s a low-tech, electricity-free way to stay safe, cool, and surprisingly refreshed.
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