Here's How To Beat The Sizzling Toronto Heat When Your AC Is Busted

If your air conditioning unit is broken (or if you don't have AC at all) trying to stay cool when it's boiling outside in Toronto can be a sticky situation.

Finding the right place to cool off is important when you're trying to beat the heat, and actually, the City has provided a list of resources of where to go and what to do when the temperatures are really hot.

For the moments when your home has become a literal humidor of your own sweat and you're looking to escape to an AC-infused oasis, the City has mapped all of the places that offer relief from the heat. From swimming pools to libraries and community centres and malls, there are over 200 spots in Toronto that are available to you during these sweltering temperatures.

Whenever Environment Canada issues a heat alert for Toronto, the City will open emergency cooling centres all across town in order to provide some relief from the sweltering temperatures and scorching sun. Most are open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., but the Metro Hall centre is the one cooling centre that runs 24 hours.

If you're looking for ways to cool off in the comfort of your own home, here are some simple tips and tricks. Try to block out the sun coming from your windows as best as you can and avoid cooking anything in your oven, especially when you don't have air conditioning readily available.

Buy a fan, and be strategic: the City recommends placing a fan nearby or in a window so it can bring cooler breezes indoors. Toronto is reminding people that fans don't actually make the air colder for you, but in fact, just push air around. So if the temperature in your home is 34 degrees or higher, avoid using them, because the City says it will create a "convection oven" effect.

It's possible to get sick when it's this hot outside, and some heat-related illnesses include heat stroke, heat exhaustion, muscle cramps, and fainting. The CDC has some pointers for preventing that from happening, with the key points being to stay hydrated, stay informed and stay cool.