Emergency Heating
Staying Warm Without a Furnace
It's only logical to consider emergency heating in your survival plan as most disasters involve weather that can knock out your furnace.
It could be a real challenge to stay warm when the furnace hasn't worked for days due to winter storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, etc.
These are a few ideas on how to take advantage of your body's natural heat to keep you warm.
Blankets and Quilts
Most people have at least a minimal supply of blankets, comforters, and quilts on hand. Comforters and quilts are stuffed with batting in layers which increases their warmth capacity. Several layered blankets can have the same effect as a quilt or comforter.
If you are an electric blanket person, think ahead and have a backup plan in mind because you may not have enough regular non-electric blankets to stay warm when the electricity is out. If you don't think you have enough room to store extra blankets, try laying them out flat between your mattress and box springs when they're not in use.
Sleeping Bags
If you are a camping family, you will already have sleeping bags handy. If you are not into camping, buying sleeping bags for each family member is a good idea. Be sure and check for cold-weather rating, taking into consideration the year-around temperatures in your area.
Be sure and check to make sure your sleeping bags are in good condition - before you need them. Who used them last? Your Boy Scout? Your daughter at the last slumber party? You don't want surprises in sleeping bags when an emergency comes.
Emergency Blankets
You are probably familiar with the small, compact, metallic emergency blankets, also known as "space blankets". They are readily available in sporting goods stores or wherever emergency supplies are sold.
It seems illogical that something that small and thin could keep a person warm, but they do. NASA designed the technology for use in the space program, and it works by containing almost all of your body heat.
Their drawback is that they don't "feel" like a blanket. You don't get the same physical and emotional comfort wrapping up in foil that you do wrapping up in a regular blanket or quilt. However, because of their small, thin size, they are ideal for emergency situations. Buy plenty of them as they are inexpensive and do tear easily.
Chemical Hand and Feet Warmers
It seems that if you can keep your hands, feet, and head warm, the rest of your body will feel warm too. Hats work well for your head, and gloves work to some extent for your hands. But if it's really cold, buy some small chemical hand and feet warmers. They are small enough to fit into your glove, shoe, or slippers, or drop them into your pocket if you're not wearing gloves. Once activated, they will provide heat for eight to twelve hours.
Layered Clothing
Several lighter layers of clothing will provide more warmth than one thick layer. Layering everyday clothes will trap body warmth. Thermal underwear is a good thing to start with, or at least a t-shirt. Add sweat pants and a sweatshirt. Top those with a pair of pants and a flannel shirt. Add a sweater or jacket. Fleece is a good choice for layering because it keeps insulating, even if it gets damp. Avoid tight clothing when you're layering - it doesn't leave pockets of air to be trapped for insulation.
On your feet, start with a thin pair of socks, followed by a thick pair of socks - maybe even two; thermal socks if you have them. Finish up your feet with warm slippers when you're inside and dry boots when you're outside.
Wear a hat all the time. Hats help trap body heat, which is important since almost 90% of the body's heat is lost through the head. Hats are especially important for toddlers, babies, or someone who is bedridden. Keep their heads covered, particularly at night while sleeping.
Have several pairs of gloves, some for inside that can stay dry, and a pair for outdoors where they may get wet.
Ok - so now you look like the Pillsbury dough-boy. But no one will laugh if you're all warm together!
Live All in One or Two Rooms
If it's very cold and you're not sure how long you will be without heat from your furnace, cut down on the size of the area you are trying to heat. Pull all your kids, in-laws, dogs, goldfish, sleeping bags, blankets, and pillows into one room. Do your eating, sleeping, worrying, playing, and reading in that room.
Space heaters (the kind designed to be used indoors only) are more effective in a small space. Even a fireplace will function more efficiently if you are trying to heat just one room, as opposed to the entire house. Close all the doors to the rooms not being used to conserve heat.
