Winter Safety

All Shelby County residents know that weather conditions in this Ohio Valley region of the nation can change abruptly from day-to-day during the winter season. Warm, sunny days turn suddenly to cold, rainy or stormy weather. Weather forecasts often are made under difficult circumstances that are nearly impossible to predict accurately.

For this reason, it makes sense for all Emergency Management programs to help remind our citizens to be prepared for the worst. Even though some winters pass without any major snow storms, icy roads and freezing rain traditionally make winter driving and travel hazardous at times, and at other times, highly dangerous or impossible.

Knowing what to do, what to avoid, and how to prepare can save many hours of grief. At other times, it can forestall difficulties that may claim lives or cause serious injury.

Here are some of the special concerns that winter weather brings nearly every year:

• Carbon monoxide poisoning, in homes or to motorists in stranded automobiles.
• Death by prolonged exposure to the cold, called "hypothermia." This occurs when the human body is unable to produce enough heat to offset frigid temperatures.
• Drowning casualties, made more dangerous by flood--swollen rivers and creeks.
• Vehicle accidents on snowy or icy highways.
• Heart attacks caused by over exertion by elderly persons or others unaccustomed to physical stress while shoveling snow or removing ice.
• Fire brought about by faulty furnaces, wood stoves, and space heaters being used improperly.

Scores of people die every winter in accidental deaths and injuries that could very well have been avoided. Emergency Management programs can help by promoting awareness of the problems caused by winter weather, and by outlining safety steps that can help prevent casualties.

DEFINITIONS:

Here are some of the key phrases you need to know:

Winter Storm Watch
This means that conditions are right for the development of severe winter weather in the area described by the watch. This is the period when Shelby Countians should be making arrangements about what to do in case severe winter storms should strike. Supplies of food and fuel are the main essentials, but officials advise that your items should include safety and survival equipment as well.

Winter Storm Warning
This is used when severe winter weather is imminent within the area described in the warning. Factors involved in severe winter weather include snow of four inches or more within a 12-hour period, or six inches or more in a 24-hour period, damaging amounts of freezing rain or drizzle, significant amounts of heavy sleet or general blizzard conditions.

Here are some of the less-threatening types of winter weather, that the National Weather Service may announce, and of which you should be aware:

Snow Advisory
This is used when snow amounts are expected to be from only one to three inches.

Dense Fog Advisory
This is used when fog conditions are present in significant amounts, particularly as a threat to the visibility of motorists.

Wind Chill Advisory
Used for Fahrenheit measurements of wind chill in the range of minus-30 to minus-35 and below.

Freezing Rain (or drizzle) Advisory
This is issued when ice is expected to accumulate, rendering roadways and sidewalks hazardous.

Blowing and Drifting Snow Advisory
This is used when the combined problems of snow and wind bring the probability of dangerous depths of snow drifts.

The weather service explains that "advisory" information is not issued when the more serious conditions exist, such as winter storm watches or winter storm warnings.

Shelby Countians Warned about Winter Wind and Cold -- Weather experts warn that severe winter elements can threaten your life. It's important to stay tuned to weather forecasts from the National Weather Service on your radio and television sets.

Emergency Management officials caution Shelby Countians to be prepared for severe winter weather that can be expected as the winter months arrive.

"Wind chill" is the lurking danger that occurs when the temperature of the air combines with the speed of wind to multiply the dangers of both. On cold days while walking into the wind, anyone can feel the stinging effects of wind chill to the face, and especially the ears. That's why any exposed skin surface should be covered with protective clothing as much as possible. The colder the weather, the more important this becomes.

Weather experts say that exposed skin can freeze within 30 seconds if the wind chill factor drops as low as minus-75 degrees. For instance, a wind of 25 miles per hour combined with a thermometer reading of minus 20 would equate to a wind chill factor of minus-75 degrees.

Hypothermia is caused when exposure to cold temperatures cause human body temperature to lose heat faster than it can replace it (more information about this condition is listed below.) Frostbite is caused when cold damages skin tissue and body extremities, such as fingers and toes.

The National Weather Service advises wearing several layers of light-weight, but warm clothing. This traps an insulating layer of air to keep you warm, but layers can be removed if your activity and body heat cause you to perspire -- which can cause you to chill.

Common sense advice about dressing properly for winter's cold and wind should be heeded before you leave home or work. If you can't avoid going outdoors in very cold weather, at least wear a hooded coat that is both wind and water repellent. Mittens also are preferred over gloves.

HYPOTHERMIA -- EXPOSURE TO COLD TEMPERATURES

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency want residents to know how to avoid the threat to personal health and safety brought about by winter and severe cold temperatures.

What can happen to the human body as the result of prolonged exposure to cold is called "hypothermia." But, no matter what this life-endangering condition is called, hypothermia must be understood and can be avoided.

Every winter, on a nationwide basis, deaths from hypothermia number in the thousands, by some estimates. At greatest risk are the elderly poor, who probably account for nearly half of all hypothermia victims.

Deaths from hypothermia involving older persons usually result from improper heating indoors, not by prolonged exposures outdoors. Even though winter temperature ranges in Ohio are not as severe as in northern states, EMA officials warn that Shelby County's older adults are at serious risk in cold weather.

Factors causing hypothermia often work in combination to further complicate the problem: low income, living alone, eating a poor diet, suffering from other illnesses, consuming alcohol and, at times, using certain types of prescription drugs. All of these can contribute to hypothermia.

Hypothermia is a very serious condition that demands immediate professional medical attention. If hypothermia is suspected, the first step would be to use a standard fever thermometer. If the thermometer shows a body temperature more than a degree or so below the normal 98.6 degrees (Fahrenheit), the victim should be taken to a hospital immediately.

If this is not possible, further loss of body heat may be prevented by wrapping the person in a warm blanket, making especially sure to keep the victim's head and neck warm.

Above all, the person must be handled very gently. If you don't have blankets or something similar available, you can use your own body heat by lying close to the victim.

PROTECTION AGAINST HYPOTHERMIA

The most important advice is not to attempt any other "first aid" measures which you may think will help. Hypothermia victims simply are not benefited by such measures as rubbing the skin, elevating the feet or other steps that might otherwise seem to be of potential assistance.

Hypothermia victims must be warmed gradually and gently, and must be handled with extreme care. Again, the only safe measures are to move the victim to a hospital or get immediate professional medical care.

Preventive steps should, of course, include advance protection for those who could be at risk. Closing off rooms or portions of the residence not in use would help conserve heat and save utility costs.

Most Shelby County gas and electrical utilities have existing programs to help the poor and elderly cope with heating bills. Many utilities also have available energy audits that will show economical and useful ways to save heat.

Above all, the Shelby County EMA advises that you should know the dangers of hypothermia, and take effective steps to prevent the threats posed by winter cold weather.

WINTER SAFETY TIPS

Inside the Home Tips:

During extreme cold weather, power outages, or extended periods when your home will be unoccupied:

• Never set the thermostat below 55 degrees when leaving the home for extended periods.
• Wrap water pipes with newspapers or blankets. Each provides additional insulation and can help prevent pipes bursting.
• Winterize outdoor sprinkler systems.
• Consider draining water pipes before going away. To drain, turn off the water heater and main water supply (normally a valve located in the basement near the water heater). Next, open all faucets in the house, which eventually drains the system. Flush all toilets, holding the lever down until the tank empties.

Outside the Home Tips:

• Make necessary repairs to steps, walkways and property before the weather changes.
• Clean leaves and debris out of gutters around the roof to prevent ice dams.
• Place screens over clean gutters to minimize clogs from debris accumulation.
• Flush downspouts with a garden hose until water flows freely.
• To avoid interior ceiling and wall water damage from ice back up under roof shingles, make sure gutters don't freeze. To prevent gutters from freezing, install heating cables.

Car Safety Tips:

• Check tread wear on tires. The more tread, the more traction available in severe weather.
• Tune up and winterize vehicles. Check the radiator, battery, antifreeze and all fluid levels.
• Make sure the gas tank is at least half-full at all times. This will help prevent potential fuel line freeze-ups and could be a lifesaver if stranded by severe weather.
• Keep all windows clear, inside and out. Consider the purchase of winter wiper blades. When snow accumulates, be sure to clear headlight and tail lights.
• On slick roads, make sure that any corrective steering action is taken slowly. If a car with a conventional braking system begins to skid, gently apply the brakes. Compensate for the skid by steering in the direction you want the car to go.
• Antilock brake systems (ABS) help prevent skids on slippery surfaces. With anti-lock brakes, plant your foot on the brake pedal and apply pressure. ABS automatically reapplies pressure to the brakes and prevents the car's wheels from locking up. Do not pump antilock brakes.

Travel Tips:

• Plan ahead and notify someone at your destination about your travel route and departure time.
• Allow extra travel time to reach your destination.
• Compensate for wet or slippery road conditions by allowing at least twice the braking distance.
• If stranded in a car during severe weather, don't panic. Be sure the exhaust pipe is not clogged by snow and remain inside the car. Run the engine and heater no more than 10 minutes each hour, leaving a window open slightly for ventilation.

Home & Car Emergency Kits:

• Stock up on non perishables and vital medicines.
• Check supplies of firewood, rock salt, and other items that disappear from stores once cold weather arrives.
• Both home and car kits should contain the following: blankets, candles, waterproof matches, battery-operated radio, and flashlight (include spare batteries).
• Car kits should also include extra clothing (socks, boots, mittens) a shovel, ice scraper, sand or salt, non perishable high energy foods (nuts, raisins, candy), a metal can for storing items and melting snow for drinking, pay phone change, flares or roadway reflectors, a first aid kit, plastic garbage bags for insulation and a sturdy rope to be used as a lifeline if forced to leave your vehicle during severe weather.

WINTER PREPAREDNESS

Winter Safety Means Plan Ahead to Prevent Emergencies

Shelby Countians have a long-standing tradition of telling stories and jokes about the changing nature of winter weather in the Buckeye state.

Even so, the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency wants you to prepare for winter and know how to be safe from the threats of the season's cold and snow.

By making some advance preparations, you can ease the hardships that you and your family could suffer. If you live in a rural area, make sure you can survive at home for a week or two in case you are isolated by a winter storm.

Here are some tips that could help you during severe winter weather:

The necessities that deserve top consideration are food, water, and heat.

It is wise to keep a home stock of natural, quick-energy foods that will provide the kind of nutrition your body needs for producing heat efficiently. The list of foods with good storage qualities might include items such as peanut butter, raisins, other dried fruits, all-purpose flour, and powdered milk.

The amount of food and water that you would want to keep on hand would vary by the size of your family. It should include many items that do not require cooking, and should be enough to last your household for several days to a week, or two weeks in a rural area. Even if you are within walking distance of a grocery, the store could run out of stock.

You may want to consider having cooking equipment such as you would use on a camping trip. A camp stove or portable cooking unit work effectively if you are stranded by a winter storm.

On the other hand, never plan to cook indoors with charcoal grills. Charcoal produces poisonous fumes that can't be overcome, no matter how much ventilation you may have. If you use a grill, cook outside.

Try to keep an adequate supply of heating fuel on hand and use it sparingly. No matter where you live, outside supplies of fuel could become limited because of demand, so fuel stocks should be used wisely.

Winter Safety Planning

You can conserve fuel by maintaining your house at temperatures lower than normal, and by closing off little - used rooms.

In a storm, some kind of emergency heating equipment and fuel source could become essential to your survival so you could keep one room warm enough to be livable.

A coal, wood, or oil-burning stove or fireplace, or a kerosene space heater might fill in for loss of public utility power supplies or delivery of fuel to rural or remote areas.

However, you must use emergency heating equipment carefully and sensibly. Proper ventilation is a must, and fire safety must always be considered. A fire extinguisher should be considered as part of standard equipment for home emergencies.

If your heat or electricity is lost, you can keep water pipes from freezing by wrapping pipes. To keep out moisture, you can make your own insulation from newspapers and plastic sheeting. Let each water faucet drip a little to prevent the pipes from freezing.

You should know where the main water cutoff valve is located, and know how to shut off the water -- as a last resort -- as a final step to prevent pipes from freezing.

If your water pipes should freeze, remove any other insulation and replace it with rag wrappings. Open every faucet completely and thaw them by pouring hot water over the frozen pipes.

Other emergency supplies and equipment to have on hand include flashlights, candles and matches, a battery-operated radio, and additional batteries stored separately in unopened packages.

Heavy snowfall does not come every winter in Ohio -- but it does happen. Knowing what to do and storing some extra supplies could ease the hardships you and your family could otherwise suffer.

The Shelby County EMA wants you to learn how to control or minimize the dangers posed by winter storms and cold during the winter months.

Ahead of Winter time, Take Inventory of Your Home and Auto to be Ready Before Temperatures Plummet

Should we go through severe winter conditions, you don't want to be caught in a wave of panic-buying and desperation purchases by waiting until the last minute to prepare. You'll end up paying more for over-the-counter provisions, even if you can find exactly what you wanted when you went shopping. Here are a number of decisions you can make, way ahead of time . . .

For emergency lighting when the power goes out, you need a sturdy flashlight and a fresh supply of the correct size batteries, kept separate from the flashlight. Other auxiliary lighting can come from a home supply of economical candles, or a portable lantern that operates 12-20 hours on eight D-size batteries. The cost for that should be less than $25.

You should by all means have a battery-operated AM-FM radio and a fresh supply of batteries. Don't keep batteries in the radio until it's time to use it in a power outage. It's okay to plug in the radio under normal conditions using the electrical power cord, but you want to reserve the batteries, fresh and unopened, for emergency backup use.

A bit of prudent shopping in the Fall may save you time, money, and anxiety later. The time to get your radiator flushed and antifreeze added is before the geese fly South. The cost of replacing your antifreeze is estimated at less than $40. This same time is also convenient moment to check your wiper blades. A new set of blades probably won't cost more than $5.

Be sure you have a decent windshield scraper on hand. The short plastic ones are about $2, but often are given as advertising specialties if you shop at a good service station regularly. The kind that has a stiff brush at the opposite end will run about $3 if you shop the discount market.

Take Inventory of Your Home

Some people think Shelby County's winters don't require that you put on snow tires prior to the snowy season, unless your job demands that you use rural roads, or you have to get to places before roads are cleared for travel. All-season radial tires are considered adequate in most cases as long as the treads are good enough to give you traction on snowy road surfaces. At the worst points during winter storms, you would have to have wide-track vehicle with four-wheel drive, and most drivers just don't need to do that.

If the surfaces are coated with ice, not even snow tires serve any purpose. You would have to have chains (very scarce to non-existent any more) or studded tires (which probably are illegal on Ohio roads) to keep you from spinning your tires on ice. Driving experts advise against installing chains in terms of Ohio winter driving. Chains might help on snow-covered streets, but driving on bare pavement can snap chains in no time and seriously damage fenders.

Another approach to the matter of improving tire traction and steering is to take advantage of the added weight of keeping a full gas tank, which is a good winter practice anyway. Also, placing some additional weight in the trunk of your car, such as a 100-pound sack of sand can help in slick weather. Many people who drive pickup trucks drive all winter with extra weight in the truck bed to keep from "fish-tailing." Keep in mind, however, that these added weights can become flying missiles if you have a collision. Use something for added weight that won't come through the rear window of your truck, or over the back seat in a four- by-four all-terrain vehicle.

Another prevalent winter annoyance is discovering the lock on your car door is frozen. An economical but effective answer is to purchase up a small pocket or purse-size container of lock de-icer and lubricant, which should run about $1. But remember, it has to be somewhere you can get to it when the door is frozen shut. It won't help much in the glove compartment. Most cautious drivers know that winter's frigid temperatures will visit unwanted problems on an old car battery. It's not expensive, probably less than $10 to have a set of booster cables in your trunk.

Get your snow shovel needs solved before winter comes, or be prepared to learn the hardware store has sold out. If your old shovel with the aluminum blade is badly bent, or if you're tired of slinging heavy scoops of snow and ice from your older-model steel shovel, lightweight, plastic varieties can be purchased for somewhere around $18 to $20. One version looks like a coal shovel and is a bit sturdier than the older, wide scraper design that was attached to the wooden handle by one single screw. Another very popular model has an offset in the handle that makes scooping easier by getting the shovel blade closer to the surface of the walk or drive.

With newer plastic models, snow won't freeze to the shovel, except they may break if you try to use them to bang on lumps of ice. A good idea is a sack of ice melter, but what to buy? The calcium chloride type is easier on your lawn and shrubs. If your a concrete walk or driveway is less than a year old, it will not pit the surface of the concrete.

While you're thinking about being out shoveling snow, what about a good pair of insulated boots? You won't like doing shovel duty in your street shoes. Remember that Shelby County has experienced several deep snows every year for the past several years when you are judging whether to invest in snow boots or similar water-proof footwear. A cheap pair of gum boots should be $20 or less at a discount store.

A 50-pound bag of calcium chloride runs about $12. Fifty pounds of rock salt, which is hard on concrete surfaces, is cheaper, about $5. The Ohio Cooperative County Extension Service recommends against both products because they harm plants. Instead they advise that you use ammonium nitrate or some other fertilizer with a high nitrogen content on icy drives and walks. A 50-pound bag of ammonium nitrate costs about $8. Many homeowners now spread kitty litter on top of snowy walks for traction, and let the sun do the snow removal later.

When there's a power failure for an extended period of time, you'll need a heat source. If you have a fireplace, you should be laying in a supply of seasoned firewood, which is much more economical in the summer or even cheaper if you can do it yourself. (maybe $30-$40, at retail.) In addition, if you are going to burn wood, you should be careful to get the creosote and soot cleaned from your chimney cleaned well before winter. This is estimated at about $45 to $75.

A kerosene heater also is nice to have around. They start around $130. The price of No.1 kerosene is about $1.30 a gallon in the off-season, but gets considerably higher when the snow comes. If you have any kerosene left over from last year, throw it out, because over time it breaks down, and old kerosene could easily ruin the wick on a heater. A five-gallon kerosene container costs about $8, and can be made more efficient with a small squeeze pump, another $2 investment.

A standard recommendation for any winter is to stock a supply of emergency cooking fuel in the pantry, such as the common product called Sterno. A two-pack of four-ounce cans is about $4.50. It doesn't cost much, but it is tightly packaged and keeps indefinitely if the package isn't broken.

If your residence has had frozen water pipes during the winter, it's going to keep happening until you come to grips with the problem on a more lasting basis. Plastic tubes of foam insulation for water pipes will probably run about 15-20 to cents a foot, and is widely available. Electrical heating tape, which you plug into a standard electrical outlet, costs more than $1 a foot, if you go that route. You'll need to add fiberglass pipe wrap around the electrical tape, too. Costly at first glance, it would be still less expensive than calling the plumber in to replace broken water lines. A much cheaper answer is wrapping pipes with old newspapers and securing this kind of insulation with "duct tape."

In the very coldest nights of winter, in terms of sub-zero temperatures, use a light bulb under the counter or aimed at an outside wall where pipes run closest to the cold. It will also prevent water line freeze to let a trickle of water come from the cold water faucets in trouble spots of kitchen, bath or basement. This is a good way to guard against frozen pipes, and can be used in conjunction with other prevention techniques.

You will be well served to have a stock of food supplies on hand that will prevent a last- minute spate of panic-buying when the food stores are mobbed anyway. Food and nutrition experts say that fresh food is best, frozen is next-best, followed by canned food, say the home demonstration agents from the county extension service. Remember, if the electricity goes off, you may not be able to use your electric range or microwave oven.

You have to factor in foodstuffs that can be consumed rather easily without cooking, at least for a brief period of days. First on your list should be an adequate supply of products like all purpose flour, cornmeal, sugar and cooking oil or shortening. Knowing your own family's food tastes, you can keep a stock of non-perishable foodstuffs, such as dry noodles, beans, soup mixes, cereals, and canned products such as Spam or tuna. Potatoes, yams and onions can stay fresh for a long time if stored in a cool, dry place.

Many times in recent years there have been costly losses of frozen foods when the power has been interrupted, sometimes for a week or longer. The freezer gradually warms up and a treasure of frozen food may have to be thrown away unused. Simply stated, don't rely too much on frozen food for such emergencies -- be able to live for three days without electrical power. A week's supply would be safer, and should be surveyed for what needs to be consumed and replaced sometime around the middle of May. If you have space, save back a couple of loaves of frozen bread dough, several days worth of frozen meats and juices, and an adequate variety of vegetables to maintain a nutritious and balanced diet. Milk can be frozen, too, but most people don't have that much refrigerator space. Powdered milk keeps well, can be used in cooking if you don't want to drink it, and provides a versatile and healthful dietary supplement.

Finally, while you are thinking about emergency food supplies, don't overlook dry pet foods. Kitty litter is handy to keep around in bulk, and it can be used to provide traction on slippery driveways, walks and steps.

TIPS FOR THE ELDERLY

Older Shelbycountians Should Take Extra Precautions for Winter

Public officials are coming more and more to realize that older Shelby Countians have special needs in cold weather.

Each year, as a person grows older, the human body becomes more sensitive to winter's cold. There are ways to be comfortable and safe this winter, in order to reduce both the risks and the worries that come with severe weather.

Here are some suggestions that officials of Emergency Management would like you to consider:

• Insulate your home and take safety precautions against the cold of winter.
• Take care of your personal health. Make sure you get an annual physical checkup, if possible.
• When the temperatures really become cold, pace outdoor activity so you do not "overdo" in the cold.
• Keep at least a week's supply of dry and canned food items on the shelf. This is a good thing to do against any kind of disaster, but particularly important in winter.
• Keep in regular contact with someone else who knows you and your habits. A telephone call will warm your spirits and let your relatives and friends know you're okay.

Neighbors and friends are a valuable asset to an older person living alone. Keeping in touch with other people provides security in severe weather. It helps ease your mind that there is no need to worry.

If you are going to be away from home any length of time, remember that you will save your friend or relative cause for concern by telling them when you're going to be gone, and some idea of when you'll return.

Some counties in Ohio have set up special winter watch programs for the protection of older citizens.

One highly successful program enlists the aid of rural and door-to-door mail carriers who report to the county EMA office any unusual signals that might indicate when something is "wrong."

TRAVEL TIPS

Keep Winter Travel Under Control

Winter travel can be dangerous at best, the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency urges Shelby Countians to think twice before taking a long trip during the coldest part of the winter.

If you must travel at risky times, then consider public transportation, if it is available. It would be much safer than using your own vehicle.

How to Prepare in Advance:

If you have to use your automobile for a trip of any distance, here are some important precautions to consider:

• Make sure your car is in excellent repair, properly serviced, and equipped with all-weather or snow tires. Snow chains should be considered if your tires are not designed for snow conditions. Check your owner's manual for proper tire inflation.
• Make sure someone else knows where you are going, your approximate schedule, and your estimated time of arrival. An agreement to contact the person by telephone when you do arrive at your destination could be an added consideration.
• Take another responsible adult with you, if possible. Two heads can be much better than one in an emergency.
• Travel in daylight hours, and keep to the main highways if you can. Keep the car radio turned on for weather information and road advisories.
• Start with a full tank, and once underway, keep your gasoline tank at or near half full or better. If you get stranded, it could give vital in-car heat.
• Drive sensibly, using all possible caution if the road surfaces are affected by snow and ice. It's better to take your time, and drive at speeds appropriate to road and weather conditions.
• Have a "storm kit" in your vehicle in winter weather. Include a container of sand, shovel, windshield scraper, tow chain or rope, flares, and a flashlight with extra batteries kept separate from the flashlight.

• It's also good to have heavy gloves or mittens, overshoes, extra woolen socks, and headgear such as a ski mask to cover your head and face.
• Don't push your luck. If conditions grow worse, rather than risk being stalled, lost or isolated, use your head. Turn back, find a motel or restaurant, and seek help.
• Don't be influenced by what somebody else thinks of your taking extra precautions. It's your risk, not theirs.
• If you get caught in a blizzard, seek refuge immediately -- do not risk "going on" in the face of severe storm. Nothing good will come of it, and it could cost more than you'd want to pay for your mistake.

If You Become Stalled or Your Car Breaks Down:

• Keep your wits about you. If you become stalled, or think you are lost, panic is your worst enemy. Slow down, stay calm, and use your brain.
• Carefully decide what's the best and safest thing to do, and then do it slowly and deliberately.
• If you're on a well-traveled road, signal that you are in trouble: flash directional lights, or hang a cloth from the radio aerial or from your car window.
• Remain in your car and stay warm while you wait for help to arrive.
• You may periodically run the engine to keep warm, but remember to keep a window open a little for ventilation, and to protect you from deadly carbon monoxide fumes. (Keep your car exhaust pipe free of snow!)
• Wherever you are, if there is no house or other place of refuge in sight, do not leave the car to search for assistance. In many cases this will result in your getting confused (in heavy snowfall, etc.,) lost, or worse.
• Wait for help to come to you. Again, you should bundle up, stay in the car, and run the motor occasionally to stay warm enough.
• If you can possibly do it, stay awake -- not only for safety, but also to be alert to an opportunity for help. If you have a traveling companion, one can stay awake while the other gets a little sleep.

WINTER HEATING

Safety Tips for the Home

The high costs of home heating fuels and utility bills have caused many Shelby Countians to search for alternate sources of home heating. The use of wood burning stoves is growing, and space heaters are selling rapidly, or coming out of storage. Fireplaces are often used to burn wood and man-made logs.

All of these methods of heating may be acceptable as long as proper safety rules are followed. They can become major contributing factors in residential fires if improperly used, but many such fires can be prevented. The following fire safety tips can help to maintain a fire safe home this fall and winter.

Kerosene Heaters

• Be sure your heater is in good working condition. Inspect exhaust parts for carbon buildup. Be sure the heater has an emergency shut off in case the heater is tipped over.
• Never use fuel burning appliances without proper room ventilation. Burning fuel (kerosene, coal, or propane, as examples) produces deadly fumes.
• Use ONLY the fuel recommended by the heater manufacturer. Never introduce a fuel into a unit not designed for that type of fuel.
• Keep kerosene, or other flammable liquids stored in approved metal containers, in well ventilated storage areas, outside of the house.
• NEVER fill the heater while it is operating or hot. When refueling an oil or kerosene unit, avoid overfilling. Use caution with cold fuel because it could expand in the tank as it warms up.
• Refueling should be done outside of the home (or outdoors).
• Keep young children safely away from space heaters -- especially when they are wearing nightgowns or other loose clothing that can be easily ignited.
• When using a fuel burning appliance in the bedroom, be sure there is proper ventilation to prevent a buildup of carbon monoxide.

Wood Stoves and Firepolace Fire Safety Tips

Wood stoves and fireplaces are becoming a very common heat source in homes. Careful attention to safety can minimize their fire hazard.

To use them safely:

• Be sure stoves or fireplaces are installed properly. Wood stoves should have safe clearance, usually 36 inches, from combustible surfaces, and proper floor support.
• Wood stoves should be of good quality, solid construction and design, and should be UL listed.
• Have the chimney flue inspected annually and cleaned if necessary, especially if it has not been used for some time.
• Do not use flammable liquids to start or accelerate any fire.
• Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace opening to prevent embers or sparks from jumping out or unwanted material from going into the fire. Screens also help prevent the possibility of burns to occupants.
• The stove should be burned hot twice a day for 15-30 minutes to reduce the amount of creosote buildup in the chimney flue.
• Don't use excessive amounts of paper to building roaring fires in fireplaces. It is possible to ignite creosote in the chimney by over building the fire.
• Never burn charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal can give off lethal amounts of carbon monoxide.
• Keep flammable materials away from your mantel. A spark from the fireplace could easily ignite these materials.
• Before you go to sleep, be sure your fireplace fire is out. Never close your chimney damper with hot ashes in the fireplace. A closed damper will help the fire to heat up again and will force toxic carbon monoxide into the house.
• If synthetic logs are used, follow the directions on the package. Never break a synthetic log apart to quicken the fire or use more than one log at a time. They often burn unevenly, releasing higher levels of carbon monoxide.

Other Fire Safety Tips

• Never discard hot ashes inside or near the home. Place them in a metal container outside and well away from the house and garage.
• Never use a range or an oven as a supplementary heating device. Not only is it a safety hazard, it can be a source of potentially toxic fumes.
• If you use an electric heater, be sure not to overload the circuit. Only use extension cords which have the necessary rating to carry the amp load.
• Avoid using electric space heaters in bathrooms or other areas where they come in contact with water.
• Frozen water pipes? Never try to thaw them with a blow torch or other open flame, (otherwise the pipe could conduct the heat and ignite the wall structure inside the wall space). Use hot water or a UL labeled device such as a hand-held dryer for thawing.
• If windows are used as emergency exits in your home, check to be sure that all windows open easily. Home escape ladders are recommended.
• If there is a fire hydrant near your home, you can assist the fire department by keeping the hydrant clear of snow so, in the event it is needed, it can be located.

Finally...

• Be sure every level of your home has a working smoke detector, and be sure to check and clean it on a monthly basis.
• One good plan is to change batteries in all smoke detectors at the same time as fall and spring dates for changing to or from daylight saving time.
• Contact your local fire department or the office of the county director of Emergency Management for advice if you have other questions on home fire safety.
  

Checking Your Furnace Carefully Can Prevent Poisoning

The heating system in a home is the prime cause of fires in residences and is the second most common cause of deaths because of fires, according to nationwide research.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency explains that common sense steps can do much to avoid the risks of fire in the home.

Here are some precautions that will help:

• Change or clean air filters regularly every month of the prime heating season, if you can.
• Wood or coal-burning stoves should be at least a yard away from walls or furniture. Heating devices should be installed by carefully following all directions, and checked over for cracks or other problems periodically.
• Do not fill kerosene heaters indoors, or while the heater is in operation. Again, follow the directions carefully, step by step.
• Have an emergency escape plan -- which can help in situations other than fires -- and actually hold a home fire emergency drill each heating season.
• Have a prearranged place for your family group to assemble after leaving the building. Lives are lost every year by persons attempting to rescue family members who are merely lost, because of the confusion in the immediate aftermath of a home fire.

Emergency Management officials suggest that you contact the fire department nearest your home, if you need further information.

Knowing what the weather report means when you hear of the approach of a winter storm could prevent a lot of inconvenience. In some cases, it could even save your life.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency advise all Shelby Countians, especially motorists, to be familiar with the terms used in National Weather Service reports.