Any tips on keeping cool in the heat?

That forearm trick is pure science—cooling the blood where it runs close to the surface is the fastest way to drop your core temp.  To add to what you're already doing, grab a cooling towel made of PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), like the brand Chill-Its. It's a specialized spongy material that holds water without dripping. You just wet it, wring it out, and snap it in the air—it instantly drops up to 30 degrees below the air temp through evaporation. Wrap that around your neck or your forearms to supercharge your routine.

​Two other quick truck tricks for you: Freeze your backup truck water bottles 75% full overnight and top them with water in the morning. They melt slowly on the road, giving you a constant ice-water supply to refill your main thermos.

Before you drive, roll down the passenger window and swing the driver's door open and closed 5 times. It mechanically pumps the trapped 120-degree air out instantly so your AC doesn't have to fight it.

​Stay safe out there in the heat!

Working on flat rooftops as an electrician installing solar or moving roof top units will teach you fast how to manage heat — there's no shade and no escape.

A few things that worked for me: First, an insulated large water jug loaded with ice. On a hot day in the field it was not unusual for me to drink two to three gallons of water and not even need a washroom break. Cold water is non-negotiable, just like you're doing.

When wearing a hard hat I'd use a brim shade with a neck cover to block direct sun. But my best trick on the really brutal days — soak a large clean rag in ice cold water, wipe your face with it, then put it on your head. Pour cold water over your chest and back at the same time. Looks ridiculous, works great. That with a good drink of cold water gives you a good reset.

One thing that's made a big difference for me is wearing a damp neck gaiter or cooling towel and just re-wetting it throughout the day. Keeping your neck cool helps a lot because you've got some major blood vessels close to the surface there, so it seems to bring your whole body temperature down a bit. I usually soak it in cold water, wring it out, and throw it back on whenever it starts drying out. If you've got a cooler, keeping a spare towel or some ice water handy makes it even better. It's cheap, simple, and honestly one of the easiest ways I've found to stay comfortable when you're outside all day. If you've got any flexibility with your schedule, starting earlier can help a ton too. Knocking out the heavier work before the afternoon heat sets in makes the day a lot more manageable. Just make sure you're still within your local noise bylaw hours and not waking up the neighbours. Between an earlier start, plenty of water, and a cooling towel, hot days become a lot easier to deal with.

100% the cooling towels! I live by them.

liquid IV is my 2nd go too followed by proper clothes- it sometimes costs a bit more but worth it