It’s only summer, but it’s getting hot. The other day, while performing some chores around the house, the heat drove me to the safety of conditioned air inside the house more times than I care to admit.

The other day I can recall thinking to myself, “I can’t wait until it gets cold again.”

As the thought crossed my mind, I immediately caught myself and recalled how much I despise the cold.

And at the same time I’m not that fond of sweltering heat either.

But I’m a native of the South, and as such Louisiana and Mississippi summers are all I know. Outside of some short-lived stints in other states, most of my years have been spent in the Gulf Coast region.

Over the four decades I’ve been on this planet, I can recall very cold winters, and extremely hot summers.

Even so, according to records stored with the National Centers for Environmental Information, I wasn’t alive for the record-breaking summer day. For that I am grateful.

According to an article by the Clarion-Ledger, that day occurred on July 29, in 1930, when thermometers registered 115 degrees.

I can recall some recent summer days where digital readouts read three digit temperatures, and those were some especially hot days without air conditioning in a vehicle.

So far, this summer has been pretty mild, comparatively speaking. Or maybe it’s just because the AC is working in my vehicle right now.

But we’re not out of the frying pan just yet.

There’s still close to two months of southern heat left in this season, and according to the previously mentioned article, temperatures have been known to reach triple digits late into September.

So, while you’re trying to survive the rest of this summer, don’t forget to stay hydrated and keep an eye out for signs of heat exhaustion.

By taking small breaks here and there, you can ensure you don’t get overheated.