Temperatures above 100 degrees are a discomfort for healthy people but can be very dangerous for the elderly and individuals with chronic illness. Children and pets also suffer more in the heat. Chris once had a neighbor who died during a heatwave in Boston. I shouldn’t find this story funny, but I can’t help kind of chuckling every time I hear him tell the one about seeing The Guy Upstairs being wheeled outside the morning after he noticed the weird smell in the hallway. I really shouldn’t laugh, though. My grandpa also cooked my dad’s pet guinea pig when he was a kid.

The New York City Department of Health is encouraging citizens to stay hydrated, avoid the midday heat if possible, and to take advantage of cooling centers set up throughout the city. Click here for more info.

Some hydrating foods to enjoy on a day like today:

• watermelon
• oranges and other juicy fruits
• berries
• snap peas
• leafy greens
• cold summer soups like gazpacho
• smoothies (try watermelon paired with mint or kiwi-cilantro for something different)
• coconut water

And no, drinking beer while watching the World Cup doesn’t count as hydrating, but if you alternate with water and stay cool indoors, it’s not a bad way to beat the heat.