How to Stay Safe and Warm Indoors During Extremely Cold Winter Weather

When you think of winter weather, do images of sipping hot cocoa by a warm fire may come to mind? Or, were you one of those lucky kids who enjoyed the occasional snow day when Mother Nature chose to bury your town under the white powdery coldness of a blizzard-like snowfall?

As quaint as those memories may be, the extreme cold temperatures that come along with such beautiful and charming scenes of winter weather can be very dangerous. How well one prepares for and deals with extreme cold temperatures can mean the difference between life and death.

There are many aspects to planning and responding to winter weather's extreme cold. Having a plan and an emergency supply kit are very important. You should also think about what to do if you are stranded outdoors in extremely cold winter weather, such as if your car breaks down during a snow storm. However, the focus of this article is to provide you with detailed information on how to prepare for and stay safe inside your home during extremely cold winter weather.

You may need to use an alternate source of heat to heat your home in case of power failure. Or, you may want to employ an extra heating device such as a fireplace or space heater to help warm things up in times of extreme cold. Take extra care when using a wood stove, fireplace, or space heater. Be sure to read and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Read the labels and instructions to make sure that your chosen heating source is okay to use indoors.

You should never use generators, grills, camp stoves, or similar devices indoors!

Here are 10 additional safety tips to remember as well.

1. Use fireplace, wood stoves, kerosene heaters, or other combustion heaters only if they are properly vented to the outside. Be sure that they do not leak any noxious gases into the indoor air space.

2. Do not use paper as a fuel source in your fireplace.

3. Read the label or instructions for your heater to determine what type of fuel it uses, and use only that type of fuel. Don't substitute a different type of fuel for your heater other than what it is designed to use.