Ideas dealing with no power

[Coldbones]

I've been informed that I will be without electricity 9am-4pm next Friday.

I'm having major surgery on Monday, my surgeon has said I'll be basically bedbound for at least 7 days.

My DH will be at work. The only heating I have is electric!

Any ideas how I can stay warm/how to cope?

Can you buy an electric blanket between now and then?
Ask DP to bring a kettle, large jug of water and some tea and coffee bags up to the bedroom to make hot drinks so you don't have to go down into a cold kitchen.

Oh what bad timing for you.. Assuming it’s safe for you to use hot water bottles and that you have a bit of cash to spend on it I think I’d invest in about 6 hot water bottles and get your DH to fill them all up, along with a thermos or two for tea, and have them all in a big pile together under the blanket on the other side of the bed to take one or two as needed.

But there will be no power for the blanket or kettle...

How can she use an electric blanket and kettle with no power 🤔?

I would borrow a gas heater and a camping stove. Set up camp in your bedroom, lots of blankets and warm pj’s.

Make sure your heating is ramped up before the power goes off - assuming your house is well insulated. If your bed bound then extra duvet plus hat and gloves should keep you warm. Get a large flask filled with tea/coffee/hot soup before power goes off. And plenty of books to read.
I don't have the heating on from 8.30am - 4.30pm anyway and I used a gas camping stove to boil water/make meals if the power goes off - but appreciate you won't be in a position to do that.

Can you get/borrow a portable calor gas heater? Hot water bottles, flasks of tea, coffee, soup made day before. Bed socks, new warm pj’s. A book to take your mind off it. Sounds a bit grim, treat yourself to downloading a few films on 5G on phone, you can still get that without power. Good luck with op .

Blast the heating on high for a few hours before the power goes out.

Boil the kettle in the morning before the power goes out and fill up flasks. Then fill up hot water bottles and mugs of tea from them throughout the day.

I can't remember what they're called but get some of those chemical heating pads that heat up as soon as you open them. They're often used for bad backs and strained muscles.

Sorry you're having to worry about this when you've got surgery coming up.

I've got two hot water bottles so that's a great idea I can get a couple more. DH leaves the house at 5am but if he fills them then, they should stay warm under the duvet with me for hours?

Bloody awful timing! 😖

Calor gas heater is about £100 or
heated gillet gloves etc with power packs
power packs for recharging iPad and phone. Programs downloaded to watch from iplayer
hot food and water in flasks
obviously you’d have to buy a few things

Thank you so so much I hadn't thought about hot soup in a flask, that's brilliant.

Day in bed, with books, hot water bottles pre-made...

Okay I'm going to pop out now and get some more flasks, and will really whack up the heating right up until the electric goes off.

We have fairly regular power cuts here - 4 days was the longest. And I don't live in the back of beyond either!
Also make sure you've got a torch/lantern to hand as it goes gloomy around 4pm - just in case it's late coming back on.

What about some of those hand and feet warmers you snap and they heat up? That will give you the option to use them in the day if the hot water bottles your DH fills up start to cool.

Agree with blasting the heating 5am- power going off if you can afford it.

Charge up phone/laptop/tablet whatever you have so they can run on battery power and keep you entertained. Hot soup in a flask for lunch?

All else fails, extra duvet, blankets, a book and napping. And plan a nice hot comforting evening meal for when the power comes back on.

Stay in bed. Run heating early so the room is warm.

You’ll be too hot at first, so have warm hat, gloves and socks under the duvet with you ready to put on.

Remember to make sure your phone is fully charged before power goes off.

How widespread is the power outage? (We get a lot that are just a few streets) Could DH drop you off at a friend’s house for the day?

Tell your energy provider you are vulnerable as you are bedbound and recovering from an operstion) and they may lrovide you with some things to help - portable heaters, hot food etc... If it is really not safe you to stay at home with no power they can pay to relocate you for a bit.

1)Fully charged kindle. Battery radio. Battery charger bank thingy for phone/iPad.
2)big flask of hot water for tea/coffee and a flask of hot soup or stew for lunch.
3)extra duvet/blankets/oodie/hat/socks.
4)those rechargeable hand warmer things are good, either the ones that reset by boiling or the disposable or rechargeable ones. If you can get them.
5) slippers and a dressing gown for loo trips and a walking stick - if you are cold and stiff I find I fall over.

You can get a portable power station, charge it up for the phone as well as for a small heater and kettle. Heat up before the cut, hot water bottles and a spare blanket.

You are unlikely to be totally immobile, but set up a camp in the warmest room once you're up just to keep the warmth in one place. When women have caesareans they are up and about with the baby, it's sore but you just keep up the drugs supply you're given while you heal.

😂😂😂

Is this meant to be a joke or something? How does that help op when it’s clearly been said that there will be no power? How is an electric blanket going to work🤣

Last Christmas DH was given a USB rechargeable heated gilet - maybe something like that, well charged before the power cut, would be helpful?

Have you got a power pack incase your phone needs a charge?

Agree with contacting the company causing the outage. You are affected by their work and they may be able to lend you a gas heater. If not, might be worth seeing if such a thing is available for rent (or if you have storage consider buying one - might be handy in a future power cut).

You've all really helped thank you so much!! I've made a list of every idea and willstart ordering bits, at least I've got time to prepare.

It's a good idea to be prepared anyway I'm thinking, as I'm quite rural (only moved in 4/5 months ago) so this may be quite a common occurance.

I was really stressed but feel calmer now!

I haven't actually turned the heating on this year yet. Hat, layers and extra cover should be ok.

Have you got power banks? If not order some - you can buy them for less than a tenner and I have a few for when travelling or things like power cuts. Charge them for your phone. I also have rechargeable led lamps which would be handy for reading what with it getting dark so early. Flask of tea if you like hot drinks, sandwiches, nuts, crisps etc if you'll want to eat.

To be honest your best bet would be to go to sleep really late and wake up really early watching netflix or whatever in the hopes that you sleep through most of it.

I recommend a head torch just in case it doesn't come on at the anticipated time
Hands free( obviously!)
I wish you a smooth recovery
Such awful timing

Please do not do this unless they are heaters designed to be used indoors - huge CO risk!

Call the power company. You are classed as vulnerable and will often provide support.

Gas heaters are for indoor use. Grew up in a house with no heating and we had a gas heater 🤔, you can buy indoor ones.