This season of life see’s an increase in natural disasters and instances in which power outages are the norm. From wildfires to hurricanes on top of a pandemic, it is a lot to handle. Throwing in a power outage could just be the straw that breaks the camel's back. While you might think you are prepared to be without power for a specific period of time, there’s probably at least one thing you aren’t prepared for.
Sure, you’ve got candles, nonperishables, extra batteries and chargers on hand for your communication devices, but what about a heat or cooling source? Having an unregulated temperature may not seem like a big deal until it’s 90 degrees and you’re sweating out of your eyeballs. Or on the other hand, it's 40 degrees in your house and you have on every sweatshirt that you own.
Adding temperature regulating items to your emergency kit isn’t hard and will help you to know what to do with no power.
Cooling tips:
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Misting bottle + battery operated fans: While a battery operated fan may seem like a no brainer, many people don’t have any on hand or in their supply arsenal. It’s best to have a few hand fans on deck as well as unit fans that you can put in the most used rooms of your house. The misting bottle helps speed up the cooling process by either spraying yourself with water or creating water droplets in the air in front of the fan.
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Evaporation: This is a technique not many people think of when wondering what to do with no power. This is where you place a sheet in front of an open window and mist the sheet down until it is damp. Then, when the air passes through the sheet it evaporates the water from the sheet and cools down the room.
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Stay hydrated: Being hydrated is one of the most important ways you can stay cool. The constant heat is bound to draw water out of your body and make it hotter, constantly drinking water can help to abate those feelings.
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Eat spicy food: this can seem counterintuitive when thinking about what to do with no power but spicy food actually helps your body cool down. There is a reason that there is a correlation between countries with hotter climates and spicier food. Eating spicy food encourages your body to sweat and cool down.
Heating tips:
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Keep curtains closed: This is important because it will better trap the heat inside your home better and not let it escape out of your windows. Unless the sun is directly beaming in, in which case the curtains should be open to let that heat source inside.
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Place towels under doors: You can roll up towels and place them under exterior doors. This can help to keep cold outside air outside instead of inside your home. If you have to go outside, it would be best to leave through a porch or a garage.
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Light a fire: If you have a fireplace, this is the perfect time to use it. Even gas fireplaces will work when there is no power and will provide additional warmth, although not as much as a wood burning fire will.
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Consider sleeping in an enclosed space: Sleeping in a sleeping bag or a tent can help conserve body heat and direct it back at you. If circumstances are especially bad, you can share the tent with multiple family members to trap more heat.
Civil Dispatch
Now you know what to do with no power to stay warm, or cooler, depending on the outside temperature. Civil Dispatch can help to get you through any type of emergency scenario and make sure you are prepared for anything life throws your way. Sign up today!