Winter storms are responsible for many electrical power outages.
These outages present a problem for us when we are trying to keep warm
and comfortable in the cold weather, but it can be done.
The thing
to remember is that you need to keep as much heat from escaping as
possible and not trying to heat the whole house. It is much better to
designate a warm room for the whole family to stay in while the power is
off.
Choose a small, well-insulated room with least number of
windows as your emergency living quarters. If there is a room in your
home with a wood stove or a fireplace that is properly vented, that
would be the one to pick. If your home does not have a wood stove or
fireplace, you can still make your warm room comfortable.
Block your warm room off from the rest of the house and put blankets over the windows at night to minimize heat loss.
Then seal off all drafts from entering. If your windows are drafty,
apply a window insulation kit. This is the clear plastic sheets that you
adhere to the window frame with double-sided tape.
Insulation is
the key to keeping warmth in and keeping out cold. Besides the windows,
you also should seal your entrance doors and the doors to the unused
rooms in the house. A rolled up towel will help stop drafts from under
the doors.
The whole family, including the family pets, should group together in the warm room to benefit from the combined body heat.
If there is sunshine during the day, open the window coverings to let the sun in.
Put
on several thin layers of clothing and don't forget to wear a hat. As
much as 80% of a person's body heat can be lost without one. Thermal
underwear is also very effective.
The body burns food to produce
calories, which in turn keeps you warm. Prepare meals regularly and make
sure everyone eats something.
If you have a propane BBQ outside,
food cans could be opened inside and heated in the BBQ outside. Hot food
is always preferable to cold and helps warm you up. You may prefer to
cook most meals outside on the gas grill or BBQ, then bring them back
inside.
Always try to keep an extra full propane tank in safe storage for
these emergencies. Of course one family member will have to go outside
to accomplish this.
A supply of emergency food bars or
freeze-dried meals in self-heating packages are an excellent
alternative, if no other cooking source is readily available.
At
night use a couple of layers of blankets to cover you. If it is still
too cold, wear some clothes and a hat to bed. Sleep with two or three
people together under the blankets to maximize body heat.
Emergency
survival sleeping bags retain as much as 90% of body heat, are
inexpensive and easy to store. They would make an excellent addition to
your emergency preparedness kit.
Above all, DO NOT USE kerosene or
propane heaters, BBQ's, or any outdoor type heater inside your home.
These appliances generate poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide, an
odorless and colorless gas that is given off by combustion.
Allan Wright is a qualified writer with a keen interest in Family Health and Safety. He is presently the Project Manager for
First Aid Kit Products, his articles reflect many of his thoughts and views concerning all avenues of Family Health and Safety.
Be Prepared for a power outage with a
Black Out Emergency Kit from First Aid Kit Products
Great way to warm yourself up on a cold day.
NEED:
This is a simple and quick little dish. I serve mine over rice.
