Cooling pillow

A cooling pillow generates a gust of cooled air when compressed. A solid, resilient, compressible foam block forms a core of the cooling pillow. A phase change material layer adhered to a surface of the foam block. Holes can be formed in the foam block to enhance the feel of the pillow and to improve the speed at which air is displaced when the cooling pillow is compressed. A pillow protector encloses of lightweight breathable material encloses the foam block. The pillow protector prevents the foam block and cooling layer from being abraded during insertion and removal from a pillow case. The pillow case encloses the pillow protector, which in tour holds the foam block and cooling layer. The pillow case has a breathable surface. The breathable surface is oriented to overly the cooling layer. A performance material can be used to form the breathable surface. To use the cooling pillow, the cooling pillow is oriented with the cooling layer and the breathable surface facing upward. The user then rests his or her head on the top of the pillow and compresses the cooling pillow with the weight of his or her head. As the pillow compresses, air is displaced and is cooled by the phase change material in the cooling layer. The result is a gust of cooled air against the user's head and neck.