Salt Lake City just had its hottest July. Here's how to stay cool

For the second year in a row, Salt Lake City reported July as its hottest month on record, according to data from the National Weather Service.

• We endured 18 days of temperatures reaching triple digits.

Why it matters: Extreme heat can take a toll on our bodies and our brains, Axios' Eric Pandey reports.

• Multiple studies show high temperatures can impact our cognitive functions and lead to a decrease in reaction time, confusion and a decline in productivity.
• In extreme cases, heatstroke symptoms include loss of consciousness, seizures and even death.

Here's what you can do to stay cool this summer:

1. Cool down before going to bed

• Take a cold shower before you go to sleep.
• Freezing your sheets and pillowcases before you snooze can also help.

2. Eat your water

• We all know it's critical to drink water during a heatwave. You can also get hydrated by eating fruits and vegetables that contain water like watermelon, cucumber, strawberries, lettuce and oranges.

3. Visit a cooling center

• Salt Lake County provides dozens of cooling centers for residents to escape the heat, including in all eight branches of the Salt Lake City Public Library.
• You can find an interactive map of the cool centers here.

4. Leave the spandex behind

• Wearing loose-fitting clothing will allow your skin to breathe and sweat, which cools you down.

Our pro tip: Sleep on your friend's couch in an emergency.

• Kim's thought bubble: When I lived in Sacramento, California, my AC broke on a day that was expected to reach 110 degrees. So, I phoned a friend with an AC and slept on her couch.