Staying warm without power
- Pick one room to live in, ideally with few windows. Close off the rest.
- Hang blankets over doors and windows. Close curtains at night, open them for sun in the day.
- Dress in layers: wool or synthetic, not cotton. Hats, socks and gloves indoors.
- Sleep together under heavy blankets or in cold-rated sleeping bags.
- Eat and drink. Your body makes heat from food.
- Let faucets drip to keep pipes from freezing, and know where your water shutoff is.
Never heat with these
Never use a gas oven, stovetop, grill or outdoor heater to warm your home. Only use heaters rated for indoor use, follow the instructions, and run a battery carbon monoxide detector.
Cold danger signs
- Hypothermia
- Shivering, confusion, slurred speech, fumbling hands, very sleepy. Get them warm and dry, and get medical help.
- Frostbite
- White or grayish skin that feels firm or waxy, and numbness. Warm gently with body heat. Don't rub it.
Staying cool in a heat wave
- Drink water before you're thirsty, and double your water plan.
- Cover sunny windows with light sheets or foil during the day.
- Spend the hottest hours in the lowest, shadiest room.
- Wet cloths on the neck, wrists and armpits cool you fast. A cool shower works too.
- Fans help, but in extreme heat they're not enough. Know where your nearest cooling center is.
- Check on older neighbors and relatives twice a day.
- Never leave kids or pets in a car.
Heat danger signs
- Heat exhaustion
- Heavy sweating, cold clammy skin, weakness, nausea, headache. Move to a cool place, loosen clothes, sip water, use cool cloths. Get help if it lasts over an hour or gets worse.
- Heat stroke
- Body temperature of 103°F or higher, hot red skin, confusion, fainting. Call 911. Cool them down right away while you wait.
Heat & cold gear
Battery carbon monoxide detector
Required if you use any fuel-burning heater, stove or generator.
My pick: Kidde battery CO alarm
Wool blankets
Warm even when damp. A prepper and sailor staple.
My pick: Pendleton Yakima Camp Wool Blanket
Cold-rated sleeping bags
Sleep warm in a cold house. Check the temperature rating.
My pick: Coleman North Rim 0°F Mummy Sleeping Bag
Hand and body warmers
Cheap, compact and surprisingly effective.
My pick: HotHands Hand Warmers, 40 Pairs
Mylar emergency blankets
Pocket-sized backup for go-bags and cars.
My pick: Swiss Safe Mylar Emergency Blankets, 10 Pack
Rechargeable battery fan
Moves air during summer outages.
My pick: O2COOL Treva 10-Inch Rechargeable Portable Fan
Cooling towels
Wet, wring and wear to cool down in a heat wave.
My pick: Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad Cooling Towel
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