Whenever we get a good cold snap where I live, my southern family likes to remind me that I choose to live where we have cold winters. I usually retort that I prefer to live where the weather can’t kill me and remind them that they choose to live with their hurricanes and tornadoes.
Of course, all it takes is one serious ice storm to remind me that cold can kill, too.
However, it’s not how you would think.
Stay safe and warm this winter when the power goes out with a few simple tips.
1. Cold Kills Indirectly – Stay Alive, Even if You’re Uncomfortable
We’ll start right off the bat with the most important tip — be safe in your efforts to stay warm.
It’s unlikely a home will get cold enough for the occupants inside to freeze to death (although not unheard of further north).
During a winter power outage, people will often resort to unsafe measures in an attempt to warm their homes, and that’s where the danger lies.
Choosing to use a fireplace or wood stove that hasn’t been properly maintained can lead to a chimney fire. Using space heaters can also lead to fires if not used with caution. Using camping stoves, kerosene space heaters or gas ovens to try and heat a home can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
Fires and carbon monoxide poisoning are the leading causes of death during a power outage in the winter, not the cold itself.
Above all else, remember that it’s much easier to heat a person than a room during a power outage this winter.
2. Start by Keeping YOU Warm
While your first thought might be to try to keep a room warm, the best thing you can do is to keep yourself warm. As previously stated, it’s also much easier to heat a person rather than an entire room when you’ve got no power.
Just as when you would go outside in the cold, you’ll want to wear layers. Start with close-fitting base layers, and then add warmer items on top.
Wool or fleece are both great options that will help to hold in heat.
(As a knitter of 39 years, I can attest to the incredible heat-trapping power of wool. If you don’t own a 100% wool sweater, I highly suggest a trip to Goodwill to grab one, even if it’s just for emergencies.)
Put socks, a hat and a scarf on; fingerless gloves if you’ve got them, too. We lose so much heat from our heads and feet. Just putting on thick wool socks and a hat can be a big help. Put on slippers or house shoes, anything that will keep the cold from the floor from coming up through your socks. Do you have a seriously warm pair of snow boots? Now is the time to break the “no shoes in the house” rule.
Wrap a scarf or shawl around your neck, and you’re good to go.
3. Retain Body Heat
Now that you’re well insulated, take measures to retain your body’s natural heat.
Wrap up in heavy blankets or sleeping bags, especially those rated for cold-weather camping. Huddling under the covers is a good way to stay warm, too.
If you’ve got them, mylar space blankets really come in handy. Wrap yourself in one over your clothes before adding your layer of blankets. The mylar blanket will reflect your body heat back onto you. (I own these ones and keep some in my car as well for emergencies.)
HotHands hand warmers are wonderful for tucking into mittens or shoes during a power outage. Stuff a few down at the bottom of your bed under the covers, too. (These are another emergency item I keep stashed in my car.)
4. Eat, Eat, Eat!
If you have a safe way of heating water, tea or cocoa are great ways to stay warm. If not, opt for calorie-dense foods (carbs are now your friend) that will help fuel up your internal furnace.
5. Get Moving!
Moderate activity will help generate body heat and warm you up. Do jumping jacks or jog in place for a minute. Pace or walk briskly around your home.
Movement will help keep you warm and keep blood moving through your extremities, which will help to keep your hands and feet warm as well.
It’s important to remember that you don’t want to break a sweat, which can cause chills. You simply want to move enough to kick on your internal furnace.
6. Snuggle Up!
A winter power outage is the perfect time to get cuddly with the ones you love. Share body heat by sitting crammed together on the couch or snuggling under the covers with family members or pets.
7. Save Indoor Heat
Clearly, in a power outage, you won’t be able to keep the entire house warm, but you can take measures to make at least one room comfortable. Close the doors to all rooms you won’t be inhabiting. Hang blankets or towels over windows in that room to prevent heat loss.
Stuff towels in drafty cracks around windows and doors to keep the heat in and the cold out.
If you need to, hang blankets in an archway to close off a room and keep the heat inside.
Pick a smaller room for everyone to be in. Your body heat can help warm a small space with a few of you crammed in there together.
8. Use an Indoor Power Station
An indoor power station won’t help you heat your home, but it can help take the edge off of a winter power outage with some important creature comforts.
While this only helps if you prepared and bought yourself a Jackery power station ahead of time (hint, hint, hint), now is the time to put it to good use. These little guys are awesome for running lamps, charging phones (very important during an emergency), running small space heaters and electric kettles.
I have one, and it’s saved my bacon a few times.
9. Emergency Backup Plans
Whenever you know inclement weather is on the way, it’s a good idea to have a backup plan. Is it safe to travel? Can you stay with a friend (you know, the one that has a lovely, warm woodstove)? Many times, local municipalities will have temporary shelters where folks can go to get out of the cold, such as a school, church or other community building.
10. Safely Heat Your Home
Remember, the idea here is to stay warm, not necessarily cozy. It’s a good idea to accept the fact that things are going to be a bit uncomfortable until the power comes back on. But if you can safely do so with a well-maintained fireplace, wood stove or space heater, heating a room in your home while you wait for the power to come back on is preferable.
If you’re lucky enough to have a generator, you can run larger space heaters. For safety reasons, oil-filled radiant heaters are the best option, whether it’s an emergency or just for daily use.
Avoid using gas stoves or outdoor cooking appliances indoors. Don’t use your gas oven to try to heat your home. Be smart and be safe. It’s better to be uncomfortable and alive until the power comes back on than the alternative. Remember, like a kidney stone, this too shall pass.
Get the famous Rural Sprout newsletter delivered to your inbox.
Including Sunday musings from our editor, Tracey, as well as “What’s Up Wednesday” our roundup of what’s in season and new article updates and alerts.