Going Bear in NYC

‘Man vs. Wild’ host reveals how to survive a sweltering summer in the city
By GREGORY E. MILLER

Nobody knows extreme survival like Bear Grylls, the 39-year-old Brit made famous for his outrageous tips on “Man vs. Wild.” Now the outdoors man has released a new advice book, “A Survival Guide for Life,” and hosts a new NBC competition show, “Get Out Alive with Bear Grylls,” which airs Mondays at 9 p.m.

But what about us city folk? Here Grylls shares his survival tips for a scorching summer in NYC.

YOU’RE WAITING ON A SUBWAY PLATFORM, AND IT’S 104 DEGREES WITH NO AIR FLOW

“Be prepared with cool, loose-fitting cotton clothing. If you can get it wet, cotton’s great. It’s going to wick away the heat from you. But it’s the worst clothing to wear in the cold when you’re wet, [because] it sucks all the heat out of you. And stand near the tunnel, where the airflow’s coming down ahead of a train. You've always got that vortex of air.”

YOU’RE STANDING IN A SWELTERING CRONUT OR MoMA RAIN ROOM LINE

“Think like the animals, like camels, who survive in the real heat. If they’re just standing around, they orientate themselves north-south, so they’re not facing the sun head on.”

YOU’RE PACKED IN A SUBWAY CAR WITH NO A/C

“Breathe with your mouth wide open. If you’re trying to conserve water, you breathe through your nose, so you’re not expelling too much moisture and a lot of air. A lot of the Tarahumara tribesmen who run in the desert will run with their mouths closed, because they’re trying to conserve water. But if you’re trying to get rid of heat, think of a dog. A dog pants to expel heat through his mouth.”

YOU CAN’T BREATHE BECAUSE OF THE STENCH OF ROTTING STREET TRASH

“Tear off a bit of your T-shirt to cover your mouth, or I've used my underpants. Even better, make it wet to keep your face cool.”

YOUR WINDOW UNIT IS BROKEN, AND YOU CAN’T SLEEP

“Open the windows wide, and if you have any covers, just use a sheet, and make it a bit damp. You can get a bit of a hand towel, make that wet and wrap it around the back of your neck, and tie it so it stays in place. It’s all about cooling arteries where your main blood flow is going. Your neck is a good [spot], and temples and wrists.”

YOUR FEET ARE SWEATING, BUT YOU CAN’T WEAR FLIP-FLOPS ON THE GRIMY STREETS

“Get your sport shoes — whatever shoes you’re going to wear that are as light as possible — and just stick them in the freezer the night before. When you get up in the morning, they’re going to be really cold, and they’re going to stay cold for awhile.”

YOU’RE THIRSTY, AND WATER BOTTLE PRICES AT THE PARK ARE JACKED UP

“There used to be a little urban myth that tea, coffee, sugary drinks and milk dehydrate you, but they've proved that wrong. But it’s not going to be as good as the most hydrating drink: pineapple juice. That’s why in the military they now pack it. In Afghanistan, we used to drink that. It’s the best balance of electrolytes and sugars to re-hydrate you.”