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Cold weather safety tips

Sunday, December 16, 2007

United Way of Greater St. Louis wants to remind you to take care during cold weather advisories, warnings and emergencies. For information on where to get help during a cold-weather emergency, most Missouri residents can call 2-1-1 while cell phone users and those not yet able to dial 2-1-1, should call: 1-800-427-4626. For senior citizens worried about not being able to pay for heating, bill assistance information is available by calling United Way at 2-1-1 or 1-800-427-4626.

Taking preventive action is your best defense against having to deal with extreme cold-weather conditions. By preparing your home and car in advance for winter emergencies, and by observing safety precautions during times of extremely cold weather, you can reduce the risk of weather-related health problems.

Below are tips to help keep you safe and warm during cold weather emergencies.

Personal cold weather tips:

Dress in layered clothing and wear some sort of head gear/covering

Check space heaters for sufficient ventilation and wire condition

Never place space heaters close to flammable objects, such as drapes or bedding or on top of furniture or near water

Make sure fireplace flues are working properly

Check extension cords for breaks or fraying

Do not use charcoal or gas grills indoors

Check on your neighbors – especially the elderly

Keep pets inside

Never use an electric generator indoors, inside the garage, or near the air intake of your home because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning

Insulate walls and attic.

Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows.

Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside.

Insulate any water lines that run along outer walls (water will be less likely to freeze).

Service snow-removal equipment.

Have chimney and flue inspected.

Install easy-to-read outdoor thermometer

Prepare your home and car for cold weather – safety kits are available

Before a winter storm hits:

Have a week’s worth of food and safety supplies

Keep a water supply

Make sure you have at least one of the following in case there is a power failure:

Battery-powered radio (for listening to local emergency instructions). Have extra batteries

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio receiver (for listening to National Weather Service broadcasts)

Find out how your community warns the public about severe weather

Listen to emergency broadcasts

Winter storm warning terms:

Winter weather advisory (Expect winter weather conditions to cause inconvenience and hazards.)

Frost/freeze warning (Expect below-freezing temperatures.)

Winter storm watch (Be alert. A storm is likely.)

Winter storm warning (Take action. The storm is in or entering the area.)

Blizzard warning (Seek refuge immediately! Snow and strong winds, near-zero visibility, deep snow drifts, and life-threatening wind chill.)

Much more cold-weather related information is available at these sites:

http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/factsheet.asp

http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/guide.asp

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/poweroutage/needtoknow.asp

http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/links.asp

http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_595_,00.html

The United Way of Greater St. Louis funds nearly 200 health and human service agencies located throughout a 16-county area in Missouri and Illinois. More than one million people in our BI-state community receive services that strengthen families, help the elderly, keep children healthy and safe, and build stronger neighborhoods. For more information visit our web site at www.stl.unitedway.org. For more information on how your agency can get listed with Missouri 211, call Debbie Kern, Resource Specialist Southeast Region, 573-334-0333.

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