Emergency Heating Tips: How to Stay Warm Safely During a Winter Power Outage

Make Nighttime Safer and Warmer

Body temperature naturally drops during sleep, which increases risk during cold outages. Create insulation above and below you. Use layered bedding and place blankets underneath your body as well as on top to reduce heat loss to the floor. Thermal clothing and thick socks are essential overnight.

Warm water bottles placed near your chest or abdomen can help maintain core temperature. If your home has multiple levels, sleeping upstairs may provide slightly warmer conditions since heat rises.

Use Heating Methods Safely

Safety must always come first. Never use ovens, stovetops, grills, propane burners, or charcoal indoors. These can produce deadly carbon monoxide and create serious fire hazards. Even cracking a window is not enough to make these methods safe.

If available, use only heaters specifically approved for indoor use and follow manufacturer instructions carefully. Fireplaces should be properly ventilated, and flammable materials must be kept at a safe distance.

Avoid improvising with open flames. Stable, moderate warmth is far safer than intense heat created through risky methods.