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Cold & Freezing
Staying Warm Without Heat
When the furnace fails, you heat the body and one small room — not the whole house.
What to do
- 1Pick one interior room, close it off, and seal drafts with towels and blankets over windows.
- 2Layer clothing: a wicking base, an insulating mid (wool/fleece), and a wind layer; cover head and hands.
- 3Insulate from cold floors; sit/sleep on a pad, not bare ground or tile.
- 4Eat and drink warm food for fuel; stay (gently) active to generate heat.
- 5NEVER heat indoors with a grill, camp stove, or generator — carbon monoxide is silent and deadly.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using outdoor cookers indoors (CO)
- Heating the whole house
- Sleeping on cold floors
Good to know
- Body heat + a small sealed room + good insulation can stay survivable for days.
- A battery CO alarm is essential if using any fuel heater.
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