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So, prepping your house or apartment for the cold (most folks in cold areas will know this, but good to remind folks.
1. Don't go in and out of the house any more than strictly necessary. If this means getting doggie pee pads, do it. Your dog won't thank you for frostbite.
1. Don't go in and out of the house any more than strictly necessary. If this means getting doggie pee pads, do it. Your dog won't thank you for frostbite.
2. Go ahead and crank your heat up a little warmer than you might normally otherwise. It simply cannot keep up with temps like this and you'll lose heat.
3. DRIP YOUR FAUCETS. Wrap any exposed pipes! Open cabinets! You don't want them to freeze and burst.
3. DRIP YOUR FAUCETS. Wrap any exposed pipes! Open cabinets! You don't want them to freeze and burst.
4. Got extra blankets or towels? They'll serve you better over windows and doors. That cling film stuff you can buy can help, too, especially with drafts.
5. You can use command hooks and clips to create temporary hangers for these barriers. Make sure to put one over the door!
5. You can use command hooks and clips to create temporary hangers for these barriers. Make sure to put one over the door!
It won't be much of an airlock, but it can help keep cold blasts from stealing your warmth when you open the door. (Consider using your garage as an airlock, if that's an option.)
6. Time to bake! Make food in the oven or on the stove to help contribute to warmth.
6. Time to bake! Make food in the oven or on the stove to help contribute to warmth.
7. LAYERS, even inside.
8. If you can, make one room the "warm" room. Everyone socializes there, hangs out, contributes to body warmth. Don't be afraid to sleep in the warm room if you need to. Humans are great for sharing body heat.
8. If you can, make one room the "warm" room. Everyone socializes there, hangs out, contributes to body warmth. Don't be afraid to sleep in the warm room if you need to. Humans are great for sharing body heat.
9. PLEASE do not use your stove or oven or grill to create heat inside. That's how you can die of CO poisoning.
10. Beware of fire risks of candles. Hurricane lanterns, candles on large, flat plates, etc. are better choices. Don't bump and don't leave unattended.
10. Beware of fire risks of candles. Hurricane lanterns, candles on large, flat plates, etc. are better choices. Don't bump and don't leave unattended.
11. Your fireplace is NOT your friend. Fireplaces are inefficient and you'll find you lose more heat/let in more cold than if you just left the flu closed. (You might want to cover the fireplace, though, to help reduce heat loss through it!)
12. Don't forget to hydrate.
12. Don't forget to hydrate.
13. It's already cold and getting colder. If you're in an apartment, check on elderly neighbors. Don't linger in hallways, which are going to be colder. In a home? Call neighbors to check on them.
14. Please. Please. This cold is so dangerous. LAYERS. STAY INSIDE.
14. Please. Please. This cold is so dangerous. LAYERS. STAY INSIDE.
I've camped in -20F/-29C weather. CAMPED. People I was with got frostbite on their toes and nose because they did not take the cold seriously. (I was, at the time, recently transplanted from Georgia; they were all born in Connecticut. Overkill saved my toes!)
If you DO have to venture out... I really hope you'll consider not. It's going to be so dangerous.
But if you do, there are things you can do to prepare.
A. Put together a survival kit for your car if you don't already have one.
But if you do, there are things you can do to prepare.
A. Put together a survival kit for your car if you don't already have one.
B. This should include food, a sleeping bag, and a large-size emergency blanket. Plus, blankets, pillows, etc.
C. Normally, if you spun out, most folks would say don't leave your car. This would normally be true, but if it's this cold? You might have to. Only do so if you can
C. Normally, if you spun out, most folks would say don't leave your car. This would normally be true, but if it's this cold? You might have to. Only do so if you can
SEE YOUR TARGET and are fewer than 5 minutes of walking away. Keep in mind you'll be slower in snow drifts and wind and cold.
(Please look up details on what to do if you decide to stay in your car; there are entire protocols for this.)
(Please look up details on what to do if you decide to stay in your car; there are entire protocols for this.)
With windchills at -50 in some places, I simply cannot recommend either walking OR staying in your car (you will almost certainly freeze to death or suffer severe frostbite).
Just. Don't drive. Please.
Anyway, if you have to walk somewhere for some reason... some tips.
Just. Don't drive. Please.
Anyway, if you have to walk somewhere for some reason... some tips.
L A Y E R S
Layers are no joke. They create little warm levels of insulated air between each one and can help save you from bitter cold.
You cannot have any exposed skin for this. I mean it. You'll get a cold burn at best, but more likely frostbite.
Layers are no joke. They create little warm levels of insulated air between each one and can help save you from bitter cold.
You cannot have any exposed skin for this. I mean it. You'll get a cold burn at best, but more likely frostbite.
D. Silk is warm. It is naturally insulating. Wear this closest to your body, if you have it.
E. Tights. Leggings. Pants. Snow pants. Silk layer. Thermal. Long-sleeve shirt. Sweater. Maybe another sweater. Gloves. Maybe another pair of gloves. Mittens over that. Snow mittens.
E. Tights. Leggings. Pants. Snow pants. Silk layer. Thermal. Long-sleeve shirt. Sweater. Maybe another sweater. Gloves. Maybe another pair of gloves. Mittens over that. Snow mittens.
F. DO NOT WEAR ANY METAL OUTSIDE. Remove earrings, rings, necklaces, watches (put that shit in an interior pocket if you need it, along with your phone), any jewelry -- if you wear metal glasses, time to take them off.
E. Contacts will freeze to your eyeballs in this weather.
E. Contacts will freeze to your eyeballs in this weather.
BTW, if you haven't watched @BlairBraverman's video of how she gets dressed for dogsledding in Alaska... it's a good guide for how to dress for this weather.
F. If you can, have at least one layer of wool decently close to your body and another as an outer or near-outer layer. Wool keeps you warm, even when soaking wet.
Okay so PROTECTING YOUR FACE
Okay so PROTECTING YOUR FACE
G. Obviously, a balaclava will serve you well, if you have it. If not, you're gonna need a couple of scarves. Preferably wool -- again, that thing about keeping you warm even when wet. Wrap up everything except your eyes.
Got a loose-knit/crocheted scarf?
Got a loose-knit/crocheted scarf?
Wrap that around your head and over your eyes. If you have ski goggles, you can put those on before. (I've worn swim goggles in a pinch. Not recommended but not the worst.)
H. MAKE SURE YOUR EARS ARE COVERED.
Put on hats. Again, wool is your BFF here.
H. MAKE SURE YOUR EARS ARE COVERED.
Put on hats. Again, wool is your BFF here.
I. WHEN YOU BREATHE, go slowly. In through the nose, out through the mouth. You're gonna get icicles on the outside of your scarf but you can help to prevent *blocking your intake* if you do this.
J. SOCKS. You're gonna need at least two pairs -- outer should be wool.
J. SOCKS. You're gonna need at least two pairs -- outer should be wool.
If you can make three layers fit in your winter shoes, do it.
I. Hot Hands. Fucking do it. Chuck one of those bad boys into your gloves. Got room for them in the toebox of your shoes? DO IT. It'll be weird walking but you'll reduce your risk of frostbite.
I. Hot Hands. Fucking do it. Chuck one of those bad boys into your gloves. Got room for them in the toebox of your shoes? DO IT. It'll be weird walking but you'll reduce your risk of frostbite.
Speaking of: y'all saw that chart I tweeted earlier, right? Most of the Midwest will be in the 5-10 minute range for how quickly you can get frostbite. Frostbite sucks a lot, friends.
Look. If you're an old school, tried and true Midwesterner, it'll be tempting to be blase.
Look. If you're an old school, tried and true Midwesterner, it'll be tempting to be blase.
But you almost certainly have 100% of what you need to be safe on-hand. Add an extra layer or two to everything you do and you'll *probably* be fine.
But I do hope folks will heed the warnings and stay home. (And seriously: fuck any company that mandates workers come in anyway.)
But I do hope folks will heed the warnings and stay home. (And seriously: fuck any company that mandates workers come in anyway.)
(I know, people can't afford to actually tell their companies to fuck off, but it's garbage and they're endangering the lives of their employees by forcing them to work. It's seriously fucked up.)
"I stayed outside too long and think I have frostbite!"
Okay, so, first of all: don't panic.
Secondly... be careful. Don't rewarm anything frostbitten until you're sure it can be *kept* warm.
Here's a good guide on what to do: webmd.com/first-aid/fros…
Okay, so, first of all: don't panic.
Secondly... be careful. Don't rewarm anything frostbitten until you're sure it can be *kept* warm.
Here's a good guide on what to do: webmd.com/first-aid/fros…
A couple of final thoughts: space heaters can help manage when a house or apartment is cold. Rather than heat the whole building, pick a room that can be closed off (as I noted earlier) and use a space heater to make that your warm room.
When I talk about creating an airlock (whether with doors or a garage or whatever), it means you open and shut one door quickly, then move through the "airlock" space and open/shut the other. This helps keep temps regulated.
PS: don't build a "snow cave" for survival unless you know what you're doing, have the hand tools, a sleeping pad, and a bivvy sack.
If you get stuck in your car and the snow builds up, it creates an insulating layer. Make sure you have a way to get fresh air in, though.
If you get stuck in your car and the snow builds up, it creates an insulating layer. Make sure you have a way to get fresh air in, though.
(and I would very much like to emphasize how very dangerous it will be to do this at the current predicted temperatures and windchills. But if you can prepare -- which, btw, means keeping your emergency bag IN THE CAR *not* in the trunk -- you might be okay.)
Oh and if your car is outside it probably won't start anyway. (Might not even start in your garage.)
Why? Motor oil!
You need it to run your car and even the best cold weather stuff doesn't work well in 20F or colder weather. You need to warm up your engine to drive.
Why? Motor oil!
You need it to run your car and even the best cold weather stuff doesn't work well in 20F or colder weather. You need to warm up your engine to drive.
(This is why Alaska and other very cold places have engine block warmers at parking spaces and for their homes.)
You *can* pre-heat your car with a hairdryer. You need to warm the entire engine block. (This is easier done when wind isn't whipping heat away!)
You *can* pre-heat your car with a hairdryer. You need to warm the entire engine block. (This is easier done when wind isn't whipping heat away!)
If you have a garage, your car may start up okay. Just... be careful, be smart, do your research, eh?
(And for the love of the gods, do not run your car in the garage with the garage door down. Please.)
(And for the love of the gods, do not run your car in the garage with the garage door down. Please.)
I hope folks have found this helpful. Any other suggestions/ideas/etc. and I'll retweet'em/share.
(Stories of caution from extreme cold/survival situations also welcome.)
(Stories of caution from extreme cold/survival situations also welcome.)
Keep in mind you'd need to work quickly in this level of cold, and you'd lose your heat bubble in the car. Be mindful of the extremes and plan accordingly.
(PS: if you have to drive, check the pressure in your tires before you do.)
(PS: if you have to drive, check the pressure in your tires before you do.)
Air takes up less volume the colder it gets. Tire pressure can decrease about 1 PSI for every 10 degrees F that the temperature goes down. Be mindful.
PS Cotton is garbage when it comes to warmth, insulation, wicking, etc. It's seriously the shittiest of the natural fibers. Please don't wear cotton in the cold. If it's your only choice, at least try to avoid having it close to your skin.
Another tip on keeping your pipes safe:
