When freezing temperatures move into the Chattanooga area, here are some ways to stay safe and warm:
STAY WARM
– Have a safe backup heat source such as a kerosene, propane or a natural gas or wood fireplace in case of a power outage or heating system failure.
– Use your shelter in place measures of setting up in one room for the duration with the windows covered by plastic sheeting and a blanket at the base of the doorways to contain what heat is in that room.
– Check on relatives, neighbors and friends, particularly if they are elderly or live alone.
– If you depend on electricity for any medical equipment, confirm your arrangements of an alternative safe place.
– Do not use things such as a grill, gas cooking stove or a running car in the garage, since these methods create unsafe levels of carbon monoxide, which is a colorless and odorless gas.
– Make sure your animals have adequate shelter. Bring them inside your house or barn if at all possible.
– Make sure animals have access to non-frozen drinking water. If the animals are outside, make sure their access to food and water is not blocked by snow drifts, ice or other obstacles.
STAY SAFE OUTSIDE
– Wear layered clothing, mittens or gloves, and a hat.
– Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from severely cold air.
– Stretch before you go out. If you go out to shovel snow, do a few stretching exercises to warm up your body. This will reduce your chances of muscle injury.
– Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat.
– Stay active to maintain body heat, take frequent breaks from the cold and avoid unnecessary exposure of any part of the body.
– Avoid overexertion, such as shoveling heavy snow, pushing a vehicle, or walking in deep snow. The strain from the cold and the hard labor may cause a heart attack. Sweating could lead to a chill and hypothermia.
– Walk carefully on snowy, icy sidewalks. Slips and falls occur frequently in winter weather, resulting in painful and sometimes disabling injuries.
– If you must go out during a winter storm, use public transportation if possible. Most winter deaths related to ice and snow occur in automobiles.
– Drink liquids, such as warm broth or juice, but avoid caffeine and alcohol.
– Get out of the cold immediately if signs of hypothermia or frostbite appear. These signs include shaking uncontrollably, getting extremely tired, turning very pale or getting numb fingers, toes, ears or nose.
– To treat someone who may have hypothermia or frostbite, gently warm them by wrapping them in a blanket and giving them warm drinks and high-energy foods. Call 911 if these signs are severe.
FIREPLACE SAFETY
– Check to make sure your carbon monoxide detector is working.
– Make sure any wood you use is seasoned to reduce the amount of smoke.
– Have your chimney inspected to make sure it is clean and safe to use.
– Ensure you have proper ventilation.
AVOID FROZEN PIPES
– Keep faucets slightly trickling with a stream no larger than a pencil lead once the freezing temperatures start to avoid freezing pipes.
– Open vanity and cabinet doors so warm air can reach the pipes underneath your sinks.
– Disconnect garden hoses and irrigation systems and cover the spigots. Wrap unprotected pipes in insulation, fabric or newspaper to help keep them from freezing.
– If you have a sprinkler system still running, make sure it is not scheduled to run while the temperatures are below freezing.
– Seal cracks and holes in outside walls and foundations with caulking to keep cold air away from pipes.
– If your pipes do freeze, know where your water shut-off valve is so you can turn it off as soon as possible. This valve is often in a utility room, closet or in the basement or crawlspace.
– Don’t attempt to thaw frozen pipes without first turning off the main shut-off valve.
– If your pipes freeze, be careful turning the water back on. Once pipes are thawed, slowly turn the water back on and check pipes and joints for cracks or leaks.
POWER OUTAGE SAFETY
– Use flashlights in the dark instead of candles.
– Turn off and unplug any appliances, equipment and electronics. When the power comes back on, surges or spikes can damage equipment. Leave one light on, so you’ll know when power is restored.
– If a power outage is two hours or less, don’t be concerned about losing perishable foods.
– During a prolonged outage, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to protect your food. Use perishable food from the refrigerator first. Then, use food from the freezer.
– If the power outage will continue beyond a day, prepare a cooler with ice for your freezer items. Keep food in a dry, cool spot and cover it at all times.
– If you are using a generator, keep it dry and don’t use it in wet conditions.
– Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning device inside a home, garage, basement or other partially enclosed area. Keep this equipment outside and away from doors, windows and vents, which could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.
– Plug appliances directly into the generator. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet.
TRAVELING
– Don’t drive unless necessary. Traffic lights could be out during a storm and roads could be congested.
– Set the thermostat no lower than 55 degrees if you’re going out of town. Although you may be able to get away with a lower temperature, this setting is safe for pipes.
– Keep an emergency kit including blankets, bottled water and a first aid kit in the car.
– Before leaving, make sure your car is in good condition.
– Keep cellphones fully charged and have a backup charger available for emergencies.
Sources: Tennessee Department of Transportation, Georgia Department of Public Health, American Red Cross, Tennessee American Water Co., Tennessee Valley Authority
– Compiled by Kimberly Sebring