karen2205 | *shivers* - IMPORTANT POST

Current Mood: cold

Entry tags:

shivers - IMPORTANT POST

It's been somewhat cold recently and is forecast to be a 'normal' winter (ie. much colder than it's been for the past ten winters). So a post to share tips on how to stay warm. Please contribute/dispute anything that doesn't sounds right.

Edit Apologies for spamminess - am about to try to partition my harddrive. If this goes horribly wrong, I may have no internet access till I'm at work on Monday.

Cutting to protect people's friends' pages

People

The principle involved here is layering. If you layer clothes you trap air between each of the layers. Thermal underwear or the base layers made for expeditions is a good starting point, then layer normal clothes on top of them. Silk is supposed to be the best material for thermal clothing, but YMMV.

As anyone who has ever done any first aid can tell you 70% of heat is lost through the head. Wearing a hat is a good move.

Flexible, thin gloves under thick mittens is the most sensible combination that's occured to me, though I've not yet tried it.

Scarves are useful for keeping necks warm.

Hot drinks - not sure how much of an effect they actually have, but they'll certainly make you feel warmer. Same goes for hot meals.

Beds

The layering principle applies here too.

Pyjamas with socks and maybe a hat.

You can get mattress toppers (http://www.thewhitecompany.com/ProductDetails_wh.aspx?CurrentCategory=Home%7CBedroom%7CBedroom-Protectors%20And%20Toppers%7COEA for an example - probably not the best price there) that go on top of your mattresss but under your sheet and keep you warm that way. An electric blanket that goes in the same place can also be helpful (am not at all sure how you'd combine a mattress topper and an electric blanket for maximum warmth - probably topper beneath blanket but not sure).

Duvet + other layers eg. blankets, quilts.

Hot water bottle (but only for people who aren't hypothermic. If someone is actually hypothermic - remove any wet clothes, dry them off, put them in clean warm clothes and get medical attention fast. Use your own body to warm them. For people camping it's recommended that you get into a sleeping bag with them. This probably isn't necessary if you can take them to somewhere warm ie. a heated room in a house. The idea is rewarming them slowly. Using a hot water bottle/other direct source of heat will take heat away from the core organs eg. heart, lungs etc to warm the extremities so don't do it. If the person is conscious and has no other injuries requiring an operation, then a warm drink is a good idea. ISTR reading a warm bath is also a good idea, but I'm not too sure about that.)

Homes

Think about where you lose heat from your home.

Single glazed windows/around the edges of doors are the major ones I've come across. Life's easier here for those who own their own homes, 'cos there are limits on what one wants to do to a house one is renting. Sealant stuff to go round the edges of these things may be easy/cheap enough to fit.

Lined curtains are also very helpful - even if you've got double glazing you'll lose heat faster through the windows that through the walls. Remember to close your curtains as it gets dark, but open them during the day.

Stuffed knitted objects can be placed along the bottom of doors to reduce the heat escaping from there. My mother has a knitted cat who sits along one door - he has a very long tail.

Cavity wall insulation/loft insulation are good things to get if you own your own home. http://www.est.org.uk/ provides a home energy check, but the site seems to be down atm. It's about using less energy but most of the measures will also help you keep the place warmer for spending the same amount of money.

Cars

I don't have one of these but:

Have a first aid kit and know how to use it.
Know how to make a call from a payphone (yes, even if you've got a fully charged mobile with you).
Have a couple of blankets
Have water and high energy snacks. A thermos flash of hot water to make a hot drink is also a good idea.
Have a warning triangle/other items to do minor repairs
Have a lock unfreezing spray
Work out which method of deicing works for you.
Have a coat/scarf/gloves/hat with you - just in case you get stuck and have to walk somewhere.
Check the oil level, water level etc regularly.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Basically you are on the right lines. If you can keep your feet, hands and head, warm and dry most of the battle is won. A warm hat and waterproof footwear are the best things you can have. If its really, really cold, a fleece balaclava is great.

Cold and wet is a killer. Sensible choice of fabrics is key. Fleece or similar is best. Wool isn't too bad. Cotton is a killer. People who wear jeans in really cold conditions are insane. Using sensible layering I've been able to stay comfortable down to about -30 and I've camped in -20.

When I was driving regularly between Ottawa and Montreal, which is a remote and very cold highway, I kept a sleeping bag, a camping stove and a few bars of chocolate in the car just in case.

I find wool better than fleece. It's heavier if it gets too wet, but it's usually a little better on the windproofing scale (especially if it is felted!) and it does wick moisture away from the body.

Cashmere and mohair, though very expensive, are extremely warm for their weight.

I like fleece because it dries faster and I find wool itchy but you are right about windproofness. I usually wear Goretex over the fleece. Schoeller make a stretch fabric that has an amazing mix of warmth, windproofness and durability but it's expensive. I have a couple of pairs of skiing/climbing pants and a jacket in this material that are just fantastic.

Wool also has the advantage of being easier to find in good condition in second-hand shops. The fleece I've been able to find second-hand has all been pretty nasty, while the wool is usually just out of style or a bit worn.

I don't usually wear it next to my skin, but don't find it too itchy otherwise.

I also have an entire sheep's worth of wool fleece to spin or felt this winter and I'll have to use it for something, you know?

What constitutes waterproof footwear? My wellies are probably waterproof, walking boots too, but I wouldn't have thought any of my other shoes are.

Cotton is good IMO for internal layers of clothing 'cos it'll absorb sweat. Agree re jeans being bad in cold/wet conditions. I only camp in the summer - certainly not in -20!

Hiking boots are usually waterproof. Here, a lot of people have winter boots that are leather or fabric, mid calf height and have a rubber rand protecting the lower part. like this (http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442544311&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302734249&bmUID=1132574635540)

I don't like cotton for severe cold conditions period. I would much rather use a synthetic that wicks sweat away.

*nods* - I think they're a bit on the extreme side for UK weather.

I've yet to discover anyone making synthetic base layers in my size. They're something I'd try if I found them, but being more expensive than their cotton equivalents they're not very high on my list of things to try.

Cotton will soak up sweat, yes, but will cool down when wet and takes forever to dry, so ends up holding cold moisture against the skin for a long while. Think of wet jeans. Cotton's ok, in cold conditions, if there's no chance of it getting wet or damp, but its insulating properties are completely destroyed once it's damp. And just for keeping-warm purposes, animal based fibres, silk, and micro-fibre type synthetic creatures do a much better job.

What I actually came over here to say, though, was thank you for putting that example flyer in the post!

IIRC alcohol makes you feel warmer but also actually more susceptible to the cold. Might be worth mentioning.

Yes. Alcohol makes your blood vessels dilate, so your skin will feel warmer. However, your blood vessels constrict when it's cold for a really good reason, i.e. to stop your body heat escaping through your skin. So alcohol is generally a bad idea. Hot drinks are better for you and much more comforting (you can warm your fingers on the mug too).

Get long underwear. Hats with ear flaps are also a wonderful invention. If you are outside, having a windproof outer layer is a good idea, because then all your nice trapped warm air doesn't get blown away.

Silk is great stuff. It is really light and soft, and scrunches up small for carrying when you don't need it, but it is also surprisingly warm for its weight. And, hey, millions of caterpillars can't be wrong.

When I lived in a draughty old house in Bath with leaky sash windows, we used to duct-tape bubble wrap over the windows in winter.

Put heat reflectors behind radiators. You want the heat going into the room, not escaping through walls. You can buy special heat-reflecting stuff, but I suppose you could try make a cheap substitute from shiny aluminium foil.

Make sure you get enough to eat. If it is cold, your body will be using up a lot of energy generating heat. Nice solid filling hot meals can do a lot to make you more comfortable when it is cold.

Porridge making tip from

ewtikins: You can soak porridge oats, dried fruit, cinnamon, nutmeg, and such like in a bowl of milk in the fridge overnight and microwave it for a couple of minutes in the morning. This is quicker than cooking porridge normally, and creates less washing up. Also, lots of breakfast cereals are much nicer with hot milk on a cold day: shredded wheat, muesli, and weetabix all work well.

You can buy special heat-reflecting stuff, but I suppose you could try make a cheap substitute from shiny aluminium foil.

I suspect that bubble wrap with aluminium foil on one side (the radiator side) would work well. Maybe test a small piece first in case the radiator melts the bubble wrap, though.

I'm not particularly fond of hats as a rule and ones with ear flaps sound silly (I'd be worried about not being able to hear the traffic if I was walking) but if it's cold enough....

You don't want to block up all the ventilation in the house though 'cos of carbon monoxide poisioning for one thing. You also don't want your insulation on the windows to be so good that you can't open them if there's a fire and you need to get out.

That's a point - do not put furniture in front of radiators - let the heat into the room.

Don't lick metal when it's below 0C, or touch it with wet hands. You'll stick. I'm not joking. Every year in Canada there's some kid who loses a piece of tongue to the flagpole in their schoolyard.

Outside, try not to sit on anything cold (ie benches while waiting for the bus). If your coat is long enough sit on that. If not, layers of newspaper between you and the bench/ground/whatever can help a lot. Personally I find walking to the next stop keeps me warm.

Staying active is one of the best ways to stay warm, in fact, but in an emergency situation it's always a cost/benefit analysis between how many calories you can spend and whehter you'll get hypothermia if you don't spend them. Indoors it makes sense to go for a brisk walk/do something active every hour or so if you're finding it difficult to keep warm.

Stuffed knitted objects can be placed along the bottom of doors to reduce the heat escaping from there. My mother has a knitted cat who sits along one door - he has a very long tail.

If you don't want to knit, one pair of thick woolly tights makes two of these if you fill it with something.

If your curtains hang down below the tops of your radiators, tuck them in so that you aren't just heating the space between the curtain and the window.

Radiators are also great for drying mittens, scarves and boots that have become wet. If it's convenient I tend to store a pair of gloves or mittens on/near a radiator so that when I have to go out I have lovely warm gloves to wear to start with.

Scarves are useful for keeping necks warm.

And faces, and noses, and ears, and your head as well if you haven't got a hat but your scarf is long enough (looks silly but is nice and warm!).

If you have an outside wall in your bedroom pull the bed away from it some, especially if you've a metal bedframe.

Safety note: never ever sleep with electric blankets on. Turn them off and unplug them from the wall before getting into bed so that you do not accidentally fall asleep with them on.

You can make a cheap microwave-reheatable heat thing by filling a sock or stocking (I always use cotton, dunno what happens to heated lycra etc) with whole wheat (health food shops and various 'ethnic' shops have it), about 500g is good. Microwave for 2-3 minutes. It doens't stay warm as long as hot water bottle will, but it's a lot less uncomfortable once it has gone cold! These also mould to your body better than hot water bottles do.

Those click-to-activate re-usable handwarmer things are good too. You re-charge them by putting them in a pan of boiling water until they go clear. I usually re-charge them before bed and go to bed with them still warm from the boiling water, then if I wake up in the night and I'm cold I'll click them to activate the stored heat. They're available from most camping shops at this time of year and also increasingly turn up in the Christmas gift sections in places like BHS.

Putting a hot water bottle in the bed before you get into it makes a lovely warm patch in the bed. Yay!

Having a practical winter coat is useful. A practical winter coat will be wind and water-resistant, at least, if not water-proof. It will go down below the waist so that it doesn't ride up and so that you can sit on it on a concrete bench or something without freezing your bum. It will have a hood (when it is cold in Canada I wear a hat and a hood for the extra warmth and windproofing). It will have a flap to cover the zip so that wind doesn't get in. There will be stretchy cuffs, or vel-cro or snap fastenings so that you can fasten the cuffs over the cuffs of your mittens to stop air getting out there or snow getting in (if your mittens don't meet up with the arms of your coat, get armwarmers, or make some by cutting up warm woolly tights or socks). It will fasten properly all the way up to the neck, probably with a collar that can be turned up and fastened as well. Drawstrings on hoods are good. Gore-tex is expensive but worth the money if the coat is well-designed; it really is very warm. Many coats now are sold with a fleece lining and an outer windproof shell; this is great, but a big wooly sweater and a good windproof coat will do just as well, possibly for less money if you already own teh big wooly sweater. I have at least three big wooly sweaters (they take a while to dry).

If it's snowing, put your hood up. You don't want wet hair. You also don't want a hood full of snow when you decide it's time to get your head warm; it'll go straight down the back of your neck.

Keep your feet warm. Make sure you have boots you can get an extra layer of (bulky, woollen or equivalent synthetic) socks underneath comfortably - tight boots will make your feet cold fast. Cold toes go numb.

In an emergency, don't leave your vehicle. Unless it is going to go all 'splodey, you are safer inside the vehicle than out in extreme weather conditions.

If you're caught out without proper equipment/clothing and it's getting cold fast and you have any capability to make fire, do that first. It's really, really hard to hold and strike matches/lighters/etc with numb fingers; they go stiff in the cold. Once you have a fire going you can let it go out and use the hot coals to re-start it again with a bit of blowing and luck, but getting that first fire started can be crucial.

If it's very cold and you have no gloves/mittens and your hands are freezing, avoid clapping them together to try to warm them up - you could break a finger, the small bones can get a bit brittle. Best thing to do in that situation is put your arms inside your coat and your hands in your armpits. I don't know if it ever gets that cold here, it's probably easier just to go inside for most people, but you never know.

Practical winter coat - this sounds very much like my waterproof coats with a fleece underneath them. They fasten around the cuffs, are more or less long enough to sit on etc. I've never found hood drawstrings that work the way I want them too ie. I pull them and I just end up with hood covering my eyes and not coming in close enough around the rest of my face.

Fleece blankets for beds are available rather cheaply. If they're a good size they might be cheaper (and more versatile) than a mattress topper.

A fleece duvet cover can turn a summer-weight duvet into a winter-weight one.

Hot soup is a wonder food.

If you're using the oven, hang around in the kitchen to stay warm.

When I was in Islington on cooler nights I would boil up a huge pot of water with a lid and then turn off the hob and let the water cool overnight; a sort of big, slow radiator. Doing this with soup is also nice, plus you get to eat the soup. If you don't sleep in your kitchen it's a bit pointless though.

I've been known to microwave my clothes for 30 seconds before putting them on, to warm them up. I don't know of anyone else ever doing this. Be careful; not all fabrics are safe to microwave, and things like zips and snaps can cause damage.

I usually dont' have the heat running at night while I'm in bed; that is what blankets and hats and so on are for. The house I'm in now has a heating timer; I have it set so that the heat comes on a half-hour or so before I wake in the morning, and goes off again when everyone is likely to have left. It comes on again for a few hours in the evening. Exceptions to this are when someone is ill, or when very young/elderly people who might not tolerate the temperature changes so well are around. For the most part I'm used to nights being cooler and if I'm healthy I sometimes have trouble sleeping if it's as warm at night as it is during the day.

I was taught 30% of body heat is lost through the head, not 70%; I can't be bothered looking up sources though, either way a hat is a good plan.

Carrying a hat, scarf and gloves by default in handbag/backpack is a good idea during the colder months.

I was taught 30% of body heat is lost through the head, not 70%; I can't be bothered looking up sources though, either way a hat is a good plan.

Sorry, you're right, my mistake.

I tend to being too hot in bed, so I try not to have the heating on at night. But I don't have a lot of choice - I've one radiator that has settings between off and 5. So for it to be warm enough to get up in the morning I don't really want it below 1 (though to be fair, I've currently managed to resist the urge to turn it on (beyond the 'defrost' setting) at all).

What we really need is tips for next summer, right now!

OK, that'll be another post:-)

Silk is a very good insulating layer and yes layering is the key.

DH has reynauds and uses them is the cold. Basically the silk gloves stay on because they are thin enough to easily write in. Then this is layered on by a set of basic fleece gloves followed by some gortex mitts.

Thermal underwear is useful but watch out that what you get is comfortable. I have had to snip the hems on mine because they were constricting blood flow around the limbs.

It is s sensible time to have a gas safety check and service on your heating system and any gas fires. Carbon Monoxide is a killer in the winter.

I actually run the heating 24 hours in the winter. We have the temperature set at around 17. The heating is basically on less of the time as a result because it never has to heat up from cold.

If you are leaving your house for any length of time DO NOT turn your heating off due to the risk of burst water pipes. We ensure our thermostat is turned down to between 5 - 10 degrees.

Um - not practical for everyone, I know, but people provide heat. We find with three sharing a bed it is almost always a problem keeping cool enough! Even in winter we are snug and cozy under a summer weight, 4.5 TOG quilt.
It's warmest for the one in the middle, so if you are needing to conserve heat in this manner it's probably best for the most vulnerable to cold person to go in the middle.

I am told you won't get as much of the energy in your food if you are dehydrated. Very cold weather tends to be very dry and wind is extremely dehydrating.

Also, when talking about layering clothes etc., if you are too hot and sweat that can cool you down a whole lot in cold weather, particularly if you are wearing clothes such as cotton which don't deal with it well.

I was always taught cotton is good at dealing with sweat - why do you think it's bad? I'm curious.

It absorbs a lot of water and takes a lot of energy to dry. Other materials can wick water away from the skin to the outside and evaporate it away from the surface. Going running in a good fleece jumper, you can feel dry next to the skin while seeing the water on the surface of the jumper.

What an excellent collection of tips! They deserve wider viewing than on an LJ entry.

But they're not all mine - it's not really my place to distribute them more widely. Might see if I can find a tuit and put a link from wonderfuldreams to here though.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

shivers - IMPORTANT POST

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

more tips in random order

and more...

Re: and more...

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject