Surviving Freezing Temperatures

Last updated 2/23/21. Check back often for updates.
Leave a comment below if I left anything out or got anything wrong.

Make sure your heat is working as efficiently as possible

Open and clear vents - If you have vents, registers, or radiators, make sure they are open and clear (not blocked) by clothes, furniture, curtains, rugs, etc.
You can put aluminum foil behind your radiator to help if reflect heat back into the room rather than into the wall.
If you have filters, make sure they are clean and clear of dust and debris
If you have ceiling fans, set them to spin clockwise and turn them on low. The angle of the blade will either push the warm air up or down. You want the warm air pushed back down into the room when it’s cold. There is a switch on the base of the ceiling fan.
Don’t use the bathroom fan after showering. Allow the steam and moisture to remain.
Winterize your doors and windows - You can get inexpensive kits to winterize your doors and windows to make sure no cold air gets in. If you can’t get access to these, you can hang blankets or sheets over them to keep the cold air out. Put a towel at the bottom of exterior doors to stop a draft from coming in.
If you’re in freezing temperatures and have lost electricity and don’t have backup heat sources like gas or a fireplace, that is an emergency situation. Please seek alternate shelter.

Small ways to stay warm at home that don’t require turning up the heat

Layer and bundle - Layer your clothes to insulate your body.
1. Thin bottom layer, closest to your skin should be thin and breathable. (cotton t-shirt, long johns/long underwear, leggings, tights, etc.)
2. The middle layer should cover your arms and legs completely and be a bit thicker material. (long-sleeve shirt, thermal, flannel, button-down shirt, leggings, jeans, sweatpants, etc.)
3. The outer layer is the thickest material. Wear your biggest chunkiest sweaters (just make sure you have layers underneath). Wear your coats, jacket, hoodie, cardigan, thicker pants.
4. Even two layers on your legs can make a huge difference. Tights with leggings will feel warmer than a single layer.
5. Socks and slippers - If your feet are cold, you will feel cold. Keep your feet warm, clean, and dry. Change your socks regularly.
6. Hats - Wear a hat or toboggan inside. We lose a lot of our body heat through our heads.
Stove - Cooking can heat up the kitchen.
1. You can also put a large pot of water on the stove and keep it on a simmer. This will add moisture and humidity to the air to help it feel warmer and keep your skin from drying out. You can add lemons, cinnamon sticks or essential oils to the water like a humidifier. A humidifier if you have it is better.
2. Leave the oven door open after you cook. You can leave it on longer to heat the room but USE CAUTION. It’s not a good idea if you have children or animals who could crawl inside or burn themselves. Also not a good idea to do this for long periods with a GAS stove.
Warm foods and liquids - A warm tummy helps warm up your whole body
1. Coffee, tea, hot cider, hot chocolate, warm broth, even just hot water are great to drink to warm yourself up. (A bone broth could help boost your immune system, and you can drink vitamin boosting drinks like EmergenC hot as well.)
2. Make and eat soup. Not only does it warm you up, but it also heats the kitchen while you cook it and keeps you hydrated.
3. Consider giving your pets warm water or broth as well
Heating pads and electric blankets - Even if you can’t heat the whole room or house, you have a heated spot to keep you warm.
1. If you don’t have a heating pad you can microwave in a heat-safe pouch with dry beans, rice, or corn.
2. Even lidocaine patches (for sore muscles) can offer temporary relief and heat your skin
3. If you have a warm air or steam humidifier, this can be used as well.
If you have multiple floors in your home, the top floor will most likely be the warmest because heat rises.
Add blankets to your bed. Use the same layering method as clothing. Lay rugs down on bare floors.
Move around - When it’s cold we want to huddle in place, but movement generates body heat, which makes you feel warmer. Dance, do jumping jacks, clean, anything to generate body heat, and warm up your muscles.
Snuggle up - If you have a pet, or a partner, or someone in your household you can snuggle with at night you will stay warmer. Dogsled runners bring their dogs into their tent at night to huddle and stay warm for this reason. It’s where we get the term “three dog night”

Indoor Pets

If they have any conditions like arthritis, be aware that just like us, those issues can worsen in cold temperatures.
You may need to take shorter walks or let them in sooner. Short hair animals have less tolerance for cold as well as short-legged animals because their bodies are closer to the ice/snow/cold ground.
If you can, offer them different places to sleep or warm-up. They want to avoid the cold floor. They will appreciate a blanket or bed near a heat source or like a fireplace or vent. But not too close to burn them.
Animals can get hypothermia and frostbite too. If you’re able, bring your pets inside when temps are below freezing. Symptoms include whining, shivering, less or no movement, seems anxious or weak, or starts looking for places to burrow.
Your pets may appreciate a sweater or coat just like you.
Take care of their paws. Dry them off when you come inside. Check them for injuries. You can tell if they’re cold by their paws also.
When you stock up for cold weather, be sure to include your pets in your planning. Get them extra food, water, medicine. Get pads in case they can’t go outside.

Outdoor Animals

We love our indoor pets and treat them the way we do ourselves, but unfortunately, most animals do live outdoors. While they are more equipped to do so, there’s a lot we can do to help them survive the freezing temperatures.

Before driving off in a vehicle, make sure no cats or other animals have climbed inside to be near the warm engine. Make noise and bang on the hood a few times to wake them up and get them out.
Make sure there are no chemicals like antifreeze spilled where a thirsty animal may try to drink it.
It’s best to allow outdoor pets or livestock into a garage or barn at night, but they need some shelter where they can be off the ground and away from the wind. Their shelter needs thick insulation such as straw, bedding, and blankets. Use caution if you provide a heat source like a heat lamp or heating pad because they can cause burns or fires. It’s important the shelter stays dry and out of the wind.
Make sure they have fresh water. Check it often for freezing. Frozen water or snow is not adequate water to survive.
Give them extra food. More calories help generate more body heat.
Leave birdseed and suet blocks for birds. Put out fresh water for outdoor animals who may have trouble finding water that isn’t frozen.

There are many dangers associated with freezing temperatures. They become more dangerous when we’re not equipped or prepared for them.

Carbon Monoxide and other toxic gases - We have little to no ventilation or fresh air in our homes in the winter. This means gases have nowhere to go and they can collect inside where we breathe them in. Harmful fumes from natural gas, kerosene, or a running car in the garage can kill us. Never fall asleep with any of these things running.
Fires - candles and space heaters cause fires. Anything that generates heat can catch fire. Heating pads, electric blankets, anything with a cord can cause sparks and fire. Overloading electrical circuits is a common issue in the winter.
Ice and snow - If you’re not used to winter weather, please be cautious! Ice and snow are much more dangerous than they look. Car accidents, falling on ice, falling through the ice, falling icicles are all common causes of injury and death.
Keep DRY - Wet clothes can cause hypothermia even in temps above freezing.
Warning signs of hypothermia. When your body loses heat faster than it can produce it to maintain a healthy body temperature. Affects the whole body.
Adults: