Be Ready! Winter Weather

Transcription

1 Be Ready! Winter Weather Make sure your car is ready - Make a winter emergency kit to keep in your car. - Check antifreeze level and have radiator system serviced. - Replace worn tires and check air pressure - Keep gas tank full to avoid ice in tank and fuel lines. -Keep woodstacks away from the house to prevent fire and insects. - Check for air leaks! These can be filled with newspapers or towels - Install a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector in your home - Make sure the batteries are working! Have your chimney or flue inspected every year! Make sure you are ready! - Dress warmly and limit exposure to the cold and prevent frostbite - Avoid getting wet to prevent hypothermia, especially if you have circulation issues. If power lines are down: - call your local utility and emergency services. If power lines fall on your car: - warn people not to touch the car or power lines If your power goes out / you don t have heat: - close windows and doors - close curtains - contain yourself in main rooms - close off smaller rooms - Stairs can be salted with sand or kitty litter! - Never leave lit candles or other flames unattended! - Bring pets indoors as temperature drops! For more information about the Appalachia Community Health & Disaster Readiness Project call: (865) or ldavenp1@utk.edu or This project is funded by USDHHS, Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Grant #UD7HP This graphic is an adaptation from A collaboration between the Colleges of Nursing, Architecture, Engineering, and Law Enforcement Innovation

2 Sources: American Red Cross: winter-storm Centers for Disease Control: index.asp Consumer Protection Safety Commission: Federal Emergency Management Agency: BE WINTER READY APPALACHIA COMMUNITY WELLNESS & DISASTER READINESS PROJECT Remember to always call FIRST in case of an emergency. It is the fastest way to get help. We wish you a safe and happy winter season! For more information about the Appalachia Community Health & Disaster Readiness Project call: (865) or ldavenp1@utk.edu Follow us on facebook & share your ideas with us! Image Source: 8 This project is funded by USDHHS, Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Grant #UD7HP A collaboration between the Colleges of Nursing, Architecture, Engineering, and Law Enforcement Innovation

3 Introduction Winter weather can provide snowy scenery and fun activities, but at the same time bring challenges and hazards to you and your family. There are simple steps you and your family can take to prepare for a safe winter. This booklet contains information for: On the go For your health At home Sign up for free severe weather & health alerts by text message or for Clay County and the immediate area: For a local emergency, call Power outages *If using a kerosene heater, slightly open a window in the room to help airflow and prevent carbon monoxide build-up. Contain heat in home by: Closing doors in unused rooms, gather family into one room to stay warm, stuff towels under cracks under doors, & cover windows with curtains or blankets Safety Note: Do not use candles; use battery powered flashlights or lanterns for light Keep heat sources at least 3 feet away from furniture or curtains; don't use anything with damaged cords Avoid sparks; never burn paper in a fireplace/stove Prevention: Frozen pipes Drain water from outdoor lines and hoses Insulate hot and cold water pipes in unheated areas Allow water to drip from the faucet to help prevent the pipe from bursting Set inside thermostat no lower than 55 F to prevent pipes from freezing To thaw frozen pipes: Do not use a portable heater or fire; thaw slowly with warm air (for example, from a hair dryer) Image source: credit: You can use newspaper to insulate your pipes to help prevent water from freezing. 2 7

4 At Home Cold weather can affect all parts of your home, such as water supply lines and pipes. When water freezes it expands putting added pressure on pipes in the home, especially in unheated areas. This added pressure can cause pipes to burst. Also, power outages can occur after winter storms. The best protection from the effects of extreme cold is to take steps ahead of time to help you and your family stay safe in your home. How to prepare your home Things to put in your emergency kit: At least 3 days of food & water per person canned goods/meats, dried foods & cereal, etc. Special needs: diapers, baby formula, hearing aide batteries, medicine (insulin, blood pressure medicine, etc.) Dry firewood/coal (Store away from home/porch, covered) Blankets Matches Flashlight & extra batteries Battery-powered radio & clock -Cover windows with plastic from the inside -Use cat litter or sand on your porch and outdoor walkways to prevent falls In an emergency, if you run out of water, snow can be melted for use. Bringing the snow to a rolling boil for one minute kills most germs; it will not get rid of dirt, fuel, or other materials found in snow. On the go Prepare your car Winterize your car: check radiator system, fill up antifreeze and wiper fluids (with winter mix), check tire pressure, & replace any worn tires. Keep gas tank near full to prevent lines from freezing. Emergency kit: blankets, first aid kit, booster cables, tool kit, shovel, flashlight, extra batteries, tow rope, can and waterproof matches (to melt snow for water), container of water, canned foods/can-opener, bright colored cloth. Before you travel Listen to the radio for winter weather warnings Avoid driving during bad weather If you must drive: let someone at your destination know when you leave, when to expect you to arrive, what route you re taking, and to notify authorities if you are late. If you get stranded Tie a bright cloth to the antennae as a signal of distress; to let others know you are stranded For warmth, only run the engine for ten minutes an hour, and ensure snow is not blocking exhaust pipe (to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning) Do not go to sleep since sleeping can increase the risk of hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning Do not pour water on your windshield to clear snow; this can crack the glass. 6 3

5 For Your Health Hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning are two common threats to your health that can occur during the winter months. These are considered emergencies and require immediate medical attention. Listed below are things to look for and things you can do while you wait for help to arrive. hypothermia Hypothermia occurs when you lose heat faster then your body can generate heat. You might not even be aware of it happening, making it more difficult to take action. Hypothermia can occur at temperatures above 40 F if you get wet. Prevention: Do: Drink warm beverages (limit caffeine) to increase body temperature and wear multiple layers of clothing if you must go outside Avoid: Strenuous outdoor activities during extremely cold temperatures; alcohol Early signs: Shivering, slurred speech, and fumbling hands Late signs: Confusion, memory loss, drowsiness, shivering stops What to do: Remove wet clothing, keep your body moving, get under warm blankets, and drink warm fluids. Get medical attention immediately if body temperature falls below 95 F. Carbon monoxide poisoning Every year hundreds of people die from carbon monoxide (CO) gas poisoning, usually because of using heating or cooking appliances in the home without enough ventilation or air flow. The main reason CO kills silently is because you can not SEE, SMELL, TASTE, or HEAR it when you are exposed. CO poisoning can be treated but it is best to know how to prevent and detect it. Sources of Carbon Monoxide (CO): Fireplace, gas/oil burning stove, clothes dryer, furnaces, water heaters, charcoal grilling, portable kerosene heaters, idling cars in garages Prevention: Make sure heating appliances are properly installed and vented to the outside. Never use charcoal grills or camp stoves inside. Have fireplace flue, woodstove, and furnace inspected and cleaned at least yearly. Keep generators at least 20 feet from the house, and away from doors, windows, and vents. Never use them indoors. Symptoms: Headache, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, weakness, fatigue, blurred vision, and confusion Detection: Place CO detectors near sleeping areas and check batteries often. If the alarm sounds, get fresh air and call for help immediately. Do not only rely on CO detectors to stop CO poisoning, prevention is critical! Elderly and infants are at a greater risk for hypothermia because they are less likely to feel loss of body heat and be able to communicate it. Exposures to low levels of CO over long periods of time can cause flu-like symptoms. 4 5