If you lose power in the winter, you and your family could be in danger of frigid temperatures. One of the most important things is family: keeping not just yourself but your family safe during a winter outage could go a long way to guarantee you comfort and safety.
Before panicking during a power outage, check breakers in your home to make sure you didn’t just blow a circuit.
Stay Warm This Winter
Heat is more or less a necessity in your home during the winter season.
So make sure you keep all the doors shut, especially to the outside and you should use towels to block drafts coming in from window and door cracks.
Black draws heat from the sun for example, so it is also possible to insulate windows with warm blankets. You may want to place the blankets on the floor if that is where the sun is directly shinning when the suns beams are coming through the window.
During a winter weather event, temperatures can drop significantly. If you’ve lost power, you need to be proactive to keep the cold out of your house as much as possible. Start by blocking any drafts coming in from windows and door cracks. Another way to reduce cold inside is to put a black sheet or blanket over your windows. Black materials draw heat from the sun and can surprisingly warm an entire space if the sun is shining directly.
Run Water
Another great way to warm your home is to run hot water in the bathtub. It’s also important to know that running a trickle of water prevents your pipes from freezing solid. If necessary, wrap your kitchen pipes in insulation.
Don’t Drive Stay Inside
Try to avoid driving your vehicle when wet, freezing weather is present. Avoid driving in sleet, snow, or dense fog as your visibility is hindered. If you must travel, make sure you keep a supply kit in your car in case you become stranded on the highway.
Don’t Use Gas to Warm Your Home
Using a gas stove is a quick way to heat up your home, but it can also be deadly. If you use a gas stove to heat your home, you risk carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless and your chance of exposure increases if you have a gas stove running with closed windows. Don’t risk it.
Keep Your Family Safe
It is advisable to keep emergency phone numbers posted beside the phone and keep emergency medication organized and accessible. Keep stock of perishable goods during the winter season— fruit bars, peanut butter, nuts and trail mixes, and crackers are all good options.