Most experts agree, an outside temperature below -30°F is too cold to sleep in your car, period. But in reality, any temps lower than 32°F involve some level of danger. In fact, hypothermia can occur anywhere between 30 and 50°F with prolonged exposure, especially if you get wet.
Think of your car like you would a tent. If you have a 15°F sleeping bag, your lower limit for sleeping in a car in winter should be around 15°F.
Most scientists agree that the best room temperature for sleep is approximately 18.3 degrees Celsius, although this can vary from person to person between roughly 15.6 to 19.4 degrees Celsius. For most people, a bedroom temperature below 15.6 degrees Celsius is too cold for optimum sleep.
No, it's not safe to sleep in your car with the engine running. Leaving your car engine turned on while sleeping could lead to dangerous exhaust fumes containing carbon monoxide entering the vehicle.
This may vary by a few degrees from person to person, but most doctors recommend keeping the thermostat set between 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 to 19.4 degrees Celsius) for the most comfortable sleep. Our bodies are programmed to experience a slight dip in core temperature in the evening.
People sleeping in a car may die from carbon monoxide poisoning without ever experiencing symptoms. But people who are awake may experience common symptoms including headache, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, chest pain, difficulty in breathing, confusion, and seizure.
Bring some extra blankets or a sleeping bag to wrap yourself around with. Recline the front seat so you can lie down like you usually would when sleeping in a bed. Alternatively, you can curl up in the back seat, which may not be so different from sleeping on a couch.
The average room temperature is typically around 20°C. This is a good ambient temperature, but you may wish to heat rooms to different temperatures to suit your individual needs. Remember that reducing your home's temperature can help you reduce your environmental footprint as well as the energy bills.
Research has found the ideal sleeping temperature is around 17 to 19 degrees Celsius. If this level can't be provided then it helps to have air flowing over your skin to help cool your body. Good ventilation with an open window can help.
14-15° - If your home is this cold, you may be diminishing your resistance to respiratory diseases. 18° is the recommended night time bedroom temperature. 19-21° is the recommended daytime temperature range for occupied rooms. 24-27º is too warm and can put babies and young children at risk.
Restful sleep may not be worth justifying with the amount of risk sleeping in your car can impose. In the very worst case, falling asleep with the engine running can cause carbon monoxide levels to skyrocket inside your cabin, resulting in death.
It is not rude to sleep in the car when someone is giving you a lift if you communicate clearly that you are very tired. Make sure you show gratitude to the person giving you a ride and politely tell them you are going to try and fall asleep in the car for a short period of time.
“Can you get sick from being cold? Yes, but not in terms of a cold or the flu. This comes from frostbite and/or even hypothermia. If you get frostbite or hypothermia, this can weaken the immune system, which leaves you more at-risk for getting illnesses, such as the common cold and/or the flu.”
If the temperature is below 12C, then it will be too cold to get to sleep, so the recommendation is to use a thicker duvet, add extra blankets, wear socks or fill up a hot water bottle.
Are there any health risks? As long as you feel comfortable, there are no health risks to sleeping in a colder room. Ideally, you should keep the temperature between 60 and 67 degrees to experience the maximum benefits.
A car can protect you from the wind and snow, but it can still get as cold as a tent in the middle of the night. And because cold air is passing through on all sides of the car, it's especially important to insulate your sleeping situation. A warm-rated sleeping bag can make all the difference.
And we'll say upfront that sleeping in your car is a great option for one or two people. More than two people in your party and you'll want to plan on taking a tent, or hammocks. But that's another article for another time.
Breathing all night in a vehicle will fog up windows and collect moisture where you don't want it. Ventilation is key. Open your sunroof or a window just wide enough so that an animal or person can't get in. Get some cheap mesh and cut it 2–3 inches wider than the opening.
Empty coffee can, pillar candle, matches and lighter
If your family becomes stranded, lighting the candle will provide light and some warmth. The metal can keeps the flame protected and will also conduct heat from the flame that can be used to keep hands warm.
Electric blankets are useful for keeping engines warm during cold weather as well as people. Plug a spare electric blanket into a socket in your garage and place the blanket over the engine. Close the hood on top of the blanket. The heat produced prevents the engine from getting too cold.