Winter is here, and in many countries around the world, it's challenging citizen life. Higher inflation, higher energy prices, and higher food and gas prices create a situation where people can barely get by. If you're worried about how to keep yourself and your family afloat this winter, we've got 100 tips to help.
Here you may find the fourth part of the list – Check Your Self-sufficiency Level.
Other parts of this series
- Part 1: Energy-saving Tips
- Part 2: How to Prepare for a Power Outage
- Part 3: Grocery and Food-Saving Tips
- Part 4: Check Your Self-sufficiency Level (this post)
- Part 5: Transportation and Travel-Saving Tips
- Part 6: Financial Preparedness
58. Check that the home self-sufficiency level is good
You should be able to manage independently at home for at least three days (72 hours) in case of a disturbance.
Every home should always contain, for example, bottled water, juices, soups, fresh fruit, vegetables, bread, cereals, muesli, nuts, dried fruit, jams, purees, milk, or plant-based drinks that can be kept at room temperature, canned fish, meat and beans, and snack bars.
59. Get plastic bags and toilet paper for home
In the event of a disturbance at home, you may have to spend long periods without electricity, for example.
With plastic bags, you can create a temporary toilet, and you don't have to worry about running out of toilet paper if you keep a few packs as a reserve.
60. Make sure there is a bucket or canister with a lid at home
Temporary water supply services are arranged if the water supply is interrupted regionally or locally. Everyone should have a clean container to take water with them.
61. Make sure you have a flashlight or headlamp and batteries in the closet
During a power cut, the lamps do not light up. In that case, the light source is a battery-powered flashlight, a headlamp, or a flashlight found on a phone.
62. Get candles and matches
In addition to a flashlight, light can also be created by lighting candles.
63. Make sure that there is firewood at home if the apartment has a fireplace or a wood-burning stove
As a result of an extended continuous power outage, the interior temperature of the apartment can drop drastically.
If there is a fireplace or a wood-burning stove at home, it is advisable to reserve firewood for heating the apartment.
64. Check that there are warm clothes in the closet
If the power outage lasts 72 hours, the indoor air temperature drops to +10 degrees Celsius, even in massive apartment buildings, when it's -20 degrees outside.
So, you should have wool socks and blankets at home in case of cold.
65. Be prepared with a tent and sleeping bags
For an extreme situation, you should consider whether you could find a tent or sleeping bags because, in a tight situation, you should sleep in a tent inside the home.
66. Make sure that there is a battery-powered radio at home
Electric radio or television will not work during a power outage. You can conveniently hear information about a power outage via a battery-powered radio or car radio.
67. Get a rechargeable power source that can charge your phone
You can't get electricity through the socket during the outage, so it would be good to have a fully charged backup power source at home, which can be used to fully charge the phone's battery if necessary.
68. Check that there is enough cash at home
Cash is needed if the online bank does not work or the store's payment terminal cannot connect to the bank.
A sufficient amount of money is required for a few days or weeks without a payment card or other electronic payment methods. Often it is a matter of a few tens or, at most, a couple of hundreds.
69. Get the initial extinguishing equipment
In an emergency at home, you may have to put out a fire. In case of this, the apartment should have, for example, an extinguishing blanket suitable for extinguishing oil and grease fires.
70. Check that there is a first aid kit at home
A first aid kit containing essential equipment for treating accidents and minor damages should be found at home.
71. Remember the medicines
If you must spend long periods within the same walls, you should ensure that the home contains all the essential drugs and painkillers that the family members need.
72. Make sure you have iodine tablets
In the official guidelines of many countries, iodine tablets from the pharmacy are recommended for people aged 3–40. When taken at the right time, iodine tablets effectively protect the thyroid gland from radioactive radiation.
However, the primary protection measure in the event of an actual situation would not be to pop the tablets but to stay indoors. The iodine tablet may only be taken on the authority's advice.
73. A thermal blanket is a good addition
Both at home and in the car, it's a good idea to keep a thermal blanket if the interior temperature drops low. The blanket is also suitable, for example, for moving an injured person.
74. Get a VPN connection to your computer and update software, applications, and virus protection
Ordinary citizens should try to protect themselves from cyberattacks. Taking care of your information security and privacy protection ensures that you do not end up as a tool for influencing information.
A strong password and two-factor authentication protect email and social media accounts. The computer should have a VPN connection and software. Applications and virus protection should be updated.
75. Check where the nearest civil shelter is
In many countries, more and more people have become aware of the existence of civil shelters. Civil shelters are primarily found in large housing estates, workplaces, or connections with public facilities such as schools and kindergartens.
Generally, shelters are in the basement of buildings, at ground level, or as part of separate buildings, for example, in connection with warehouses.
More minor housing associations or single-family houses typically have no public shelter. If there is any ambiguity about the civil protection of your housing association, the information can most certainly be found in the property's rescue plan or from the property manager.
You can only go to the shelter on the authority's order.
Part 5: Transportation and Travel-Saving Tips >>
