Winter Survival Guide for Heat, Light, Food, Comfort and Mental Health

Winter is lingering all over the country. It seems longer than ever before with more snow and wind bringing the temperature to bone-chilling records. Cities and towns almost cease to run as everyone fights their way from home to work and back home again without sliding off the road. Ice on power lines causes power to flicker on and off. In some areas of town, it's off without hope of its return anytime soon.

It could be a few minutes, a few hours or even days before it returns. Many families have wood stoves and fireplaces to help them stay warm as long as the wood holds out. A few were able to afford generators before the onset of winter to run heaters and lights. Many others are left to fend for themselves in apartments and homes not equipped for alternative heat. So what do you do? How do you and your family stay warm until the furnace kicks back on bringing with it the blessed heat we are all so used to having at our finger tips?

It's easier than you might think to create a heated environment enough to keep yourself and others warm. With only a small amount of preparation you can stay warm in relative comfort. It's inexpensive and if you have children you make it into an adventure of survival for them. It's up to you to prepare and protect if the power goes off in your home.

1. Heat. Staying warm in a power outage is the first concern for anyone during a hard winter. It's too much to heat a home or even a large room so pick a small room in the home such as the bathroom or even a small bedroom. If the room has a window it will bring in natural light during the day. Gather all members of the household into the room. Bring all the blanket and pillows you can find for comfort. Do NOT use a kerosene heater in an enclosed space. It will use up the oxygen and everyone will die in their sleep! Think safe.

Have a box of city survival without heat items. In the camping department of any large department or sport store you can find an item called a reflector blanket. They are usually less the $3.00 each. They are very compact to store, but unfold into a large blanket. They are used to reflect body heat for extra warmth. Wrap or cover yourself with the blanket along with a lightweight quilt or other bedding and you will warm up within minutes. This is a priceless item to have so buy one for each member of the home. On the wall of the room you choose have a candle holder. You only need one. This is for only a slight addition to the heat from the blankets. It is not meant to be a main heat source, but it will take the chill out of the room when combined with the reflector blankets, bedding and bodies all together.

2. Light. When evening closes in and it's still too early to sleep it helps to have a light source. The candle is not your light source. In your city survival box you will add chemical light sticks you can buy at the same time you purchase the reflector blanket. They are easy to use and there is no mess or danger to them. They are a plastic tube about four inches in length with a chemical inside. You bend the center of the tube just enough to mix the chemicals which become light. They have a soft comfortable glow, last from four to seven hours at a time and come in different colors. You can hang them on the side of a lamp, from a hook on the wall or use them like a flashlight. Do not sleep with them! They are a safer source than candles for light.

While in the same department look for a small battery operated lantern. Rayovac makes one for less the $5.00. Check for the size batteries you will need and keep a pack around. They are very easy and safe to operate for anyone including children who need to be a part of helping for their own security. The lanterns come in different sizes and price ranges. The bigger the lantern the more light you will have. Choose a couple of small flashlights to add to you box of items.

3. Food. When dealing with children or adults in a trying situation food is always a comfort. Gather water, soda's, juice or any other beverage you have and take with you. Take bread and sandwich items, any canned goods that won't need cooking and health bars. Pop tarts, cookies and crackers will help to feed the hunger. Just remember you may have to ration the items so you don't run out too soon.

4. Comfort. Dress in soft clothes and socks. Pile bedding, pillows or anything else to make a soft place to sit or lay. You don't need to wear shoes if you are staying inside. The more comfortable you are the happier you will be. You won't worry as much about how dark it is and when it's going to end if you can stay warm and relax. You will also be responsible for helping others relax so take care of your needs and comfort too. Part of your comfort is going to be the bathroom when nature calls, but you'll will have very limited flushing abilities so conserve the water in the bowl as much as possible by NOT flushing. You will have only about two to three good flushes before there isn't any water left to flush with. You can always use a bottle of soda to fill the bowl!

5. Mental Survival. Strange as it seems this is the hardest and most important part of the ordeal when the power goes out. You are plunged into darkness and cold without the distraction of radio, TV or the computer. It is a strange feeling in the beginning without the noise's, sights and sounds of your normal world. To reduce the panic and fear let everyone talk about how they feel. Once they realize you are prepared they will relax and help with suggestions of their own. Try to keep every conversation upbeat and happy.

Start out by singing together. Sing silly children's songs, songs from you teen years or current songs. If you can't think of anything else then sing all the Christmas carols you can remember or make up silly songs about everyone in the room. Have a couple of box games for everyone to play. Remember to have a combination of children's and adult's games. Bring in books to read to others or share for their own quiet time. Share stories of your own childhood. Children love to hear stories about adults when they were younger or about their own toddler years. Keep everyone and yourself entertained with positive stories. You must maintain that whatever happens you will handle it at the time and not worry about it beforehand.

You are now prepared for a power outage in your home. Your emergency box contains reflector blankets, one candle for the wall, small lantern's and batteries, a few tiny flashlights. Your kitchen contains anything you can carry to the room to eat and feel satisfied you won't starve in the short time you are without electricity. You have books, games and memories to keep you entertained for hours and days if you need too. The power will eventually come back on and the house will warm up. You can cook again and watch your favorite shows. Your family will be safe together and you can contact other family and friends for assurance. You will survive and you'll do it in style with great stories to share with neighbors and friends!