The cost of living crisis is impacting our every day lives, from the increase of food prices to skyrocketing energy bills, it's possible we could be sitting in the dark this winter.
The chances of blackouts are likely with electricity costs soaring and we heavily rely on electricity and an endless amount of devices to make our lives easier.
The best thing to do before the cold winter arrives is to prepare. So here are some essential items you should have ready and some things you should do ahead of time.
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Phone
Make sure your phone is charged and make sure you have fully charged power banks to use just in case the power goes off.
Light
If the power goes at night you’ll need some form of light. Candles are a good idea if you keep them away from soft furnishings, paper and toddlers. Battery powered or wind-up torches are also a good idea - ideally one for every member of the family.
Cooking
If the electricity is out and all else fails, cook outside on a disposable barbeque if possible. If you’re lucky enough to have a gas cooker, it will still work - but bear in mind that the electrical switches won’t and you might need something to light a ring with. It’s not a bad idea to buy a camping stove that will boil a pot of water, make tea and heat up some dinner.
Food
The less you open and close your appliances, the less they will lose the temperature balance. Food in a sealed freezer will last for up to 36-48 hours in a fully packed freezer if you don’t open it.
It’s important to stock up on non-perishable foods too just in case your local store is also affected by power outages.
Heat
Those who own an open fireplace are very lucky. The rest of us will be relying on extra blankets and hot water bottles. At night-time, if needs be, get all the family together in a well ventilated room to sleep.
Neighbours
Your neighbours might not have a plan and some might be elderly or require extra help as they might have mobility issues - so don’t be afraid to knock on their doors and offer some help. It's also a good idea to keep enough fuel in your car in case you need to leave in an emergency.
A continuous supply of energy to a home may be required for those who rely on electrical medical equipment like ventilators, oxygen concentrators or home dialysis machinery. Make sure to register yourself as a vulnerable customer with your local electricity provider if you need.
Prepare for the electricity coming back
It’s important to turn off appliances that could be a fire risk because they will come back on while unattended when the electricity returns. Things like ovens, cookers, irons might result in a fire if left unoccupied when power returns.
Here's some other things to bear in mind:
You might need to replace any medication that should be refrigerated depending on how long the power was out.
If it looks like food from your fridge has spoiled, it is best to throw it out. Generally, food will remain safe for 24 hours if the fridge door is kept closed - but have a look at it first.
Check your appliances such as TVs to see if they are working, if not you could make a home insurance claim.
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