No power

First 10 minutes

• Check whether it is just your home: look for neighbours' lights and street lights.
• Report it or check for updates by calling 105 (free from any phone) while you still have signal.
• Switch off cookers, heaters, irons and anything else that could start up unattended when the power returns. Leave one light switched on so you know when it is back.
• Keep fridge and freezer doors shut.
• Put phones in battery saver mode and turn screen brightness down.
• Find torches before it gets dark.

Carbon monoxide: the main danger

Never use a barbecue, camping stove, patio heater, generator or charcoal of any kind inside a home, garage, tent, awning or vehicle. Carbon monoxide has no smell and kills people in their sleep.

• Keep a battery carbon monoxide alarm working at all times.
• Headache, dizziness, sickness or drowsiness in more than one person at once means get everyone into fresh air now and call 999.

Light

• Use torches and head torches first. Keep spare batteries.
• Candles start fires. If you must use them, put them in a stable holder, keep them away from curtains and children, and never leave them burning when you leave the room or go to sleep.

Keeping warm

• Pick one room to live in, ideally a small one with few outside walls. Close its door and curtains.
• Wear layers, a hat and dry socks. Sleep in sleeping bags or under several duvets.
• Children and older people lose heat faster. Check them often.
• Eat and drink hot things where you safely can; food is fuel.

Food in the fridge and freezer

• Eat in this order: fridge first, then freezer, then cupboard.
• A full freezer that stays shut keeps food frozen for about 48 hours (about 24 hours if half full).
• A fridge stays cold for about 4 hours if unopened.
• Throw away meat, fish, dairy and cooked leftovers that have been above fridge temperature for more than about 4 hours. If in doubt, throw it out.

Water and heating

• Most gas boilers need electricity, so expect no central heating or hot water.
• Mains water usually keeps flowing at first, but pumping stations can fail in a long or widespread outage. Fill bottles and a bath early (bath water for flushing and washing, not drinking).

Charging and power

• Charge power banks whenever you have power. Prioritise phones and a radio.
• A car can charge phones with the engine running, outdoors only and in short bursts. Do not sit in a stationary car with the engine running in snow, where the exhaust can block.
• Small folding solar panels work even in UK weather, slowly.

When the power comes back

• Switch appliances back on one at a time.
• Check freezer food: anything that has thawed fully and warmed up should be thrown away.

Get ready before it happens

• Torch or head torch for each person, plus spare batteries
• Battery carbon monoxide alarm (home and van)
• Wind-up or battery radio
• Power banks, kept charged
• Warm bedding and spare layers for everyone
• Safe way to make hot drinks outdoors (camping stove, used outside only)
• Know where your fuse box and stopcock are
• Register on the Priority Services Register if anyone in the home needs it