How to keep warm when there is no heating: safe advice from the Ministry of Health

Winter without heat is a serious challenge for every family. When it's cold in the house, it's important to know how to stay warm while protecting yourself from risks. Experts from the Ministry of Health of Ukraine have shared some simple tips for such situations. Find out how to stay warm at home safely and take care of your loved ones

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Russian shelling of energy infrastructure and the cold winter have led to many Ukrainian homes temporarily losing heat. In such conditions, it is important not only to keep warm, but also to ensure safety.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Health has emphasized that improper heating methods can be dangerous to health and life.

We will tell you what to do to keep warm and how to do it safely in this article.

Dress warmly and in layers

The simplest and most effective way to stay warm is to wear the right clothes. Follow the principle of layering:

thermal underwear;

pants and sweaters made of natural fabrics;

knitted items;

warm socks.

Additionally, you can wrap yourself in a blanket or quilt — this will help reduce heat loss from the body.

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Warm drinks and meals

Hot tea, coffee, broths, and soups help the body warm up from the inside. The Ministry of Health advises to take care of a thermos in advance — it can keep drinks and food warm for several hours.

If there is no electricity at home, hot water can be obtained from places with generators, in particular at Points of Resilience.

Using hot water bottles

You can use a hot water bottle or a regular plastic bottle filled with hot water to warm your bed or body. It is important to follow safety rules:

fill the hot water bottle no more than 2/3 full;

be sure to wrap it in a towel;

do not apply it to exposed areas of the body;

tightly screw the cap to avoid burns.

Don't forget to move

Even light physical activity — simple exercises or stretching — helps improve blood circulation and warm you up. If it's cold at home, don't sit still for long.

Keep your home naturally warm

The Ministry of Health recommends:

sealing gaps in windows with tape or weatherstripping;

opening curtains on sunny days to let in the heat;

closing curtains at night to reduce heat loss.

Alcohol and smoking are a bad way to warm up

Alcohol consumption only creates the illusion of warmth: blood vessels dilate and the body loses internal heat faster. Smoking, on the contrary, impairs blood circulation in the hands and feet. The combination of cold, alcohol, and smoking significantly increases the load on the heart and blood vessels.

Fire safety is paramount

It is strictly forbidden to:

use a gas stove or oven for heating;

leave candles or other sources of open fire unattended.

Such actions can lead to fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.

Take care of those around you

Elderly people, families with children, and people with disabilities need special attention. Check if they are okay, if they have warm clothes and the necessary assistance. Sometimes simple support and care can be just as warming.

If the power is out for more than 12 hours in Kyiv, it could mean there's a local outage. Energy experts suggest:

checking for outage info through official DTEK resources — the Telegram chatbot or the operator's website;

if there's no info, contacting your housing office or homeowners' association.

In difficult winter conditions, the main thing is to act sensibly. Following the simple advice of the Ministry of Health will help you stay warm, healthy, and safe even without heating.

If you are planning a trip or a long stay in Ukraine, take care of your safety in advance. Insurance with military risks coverage provides full medical protection: emergency care, outpatient treatment, hospitalization and repatriation. In addition, the policy guarantees monetary compensation in the event of an accident caused by military actions, passive military risks or terrorist attacks.

Apply for insurance with military risks coverage online at Visit Ukraine and get protection that works even in a high-risk zone!

Reminder! Large-scale power outages are forcing the Ukrainian authorities to seek unconventional solutions to support people and businesses. Against the backdrop of the energy emergency, the possibility of temporarily changing safety rules in certain regions of the country is being considered. Find out which cities may lift the curfew, what conditions are necessary for this, and what it means for residents and entrepreneurs.

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