Dear fellow Hanoverians:
With the forecast calling for lows in the single digits and below zero over
the next few days, an ATOTW reader who is also a member of our own Board of
Health sent along the following timely pieces of information. Please read
on for the following "public service announcement" tips from BOH Chair John
Dougherty in collaboration with the Massachusetts Emergency Management
Agency:
. Continue to be aware of extreme weather conditions by monitoring media
reports.
. Make sure you always have a well-stocked Winter Home Emergency Supply
Kit that includes flashlights, portable radio, extra batteries, a first aid
kit, bottled water, non-perishable food and a manual can opener.
. Minimize outside activities, particularly the elderly and very young.
Also, consider your pets. Do not leave your pet outdoors when temperatures
drop below freezing. Dogs need outdoor exercise, but take care not to keep
them outdoors for lengthy periods of time during very cold weather. Pets
that are mostly indoors need time to adapt to cold temperatures by building
up a thicker coat and toughening their footpads for ice and snow.
Short-coated dogs may feel more comfortable wearing a sweater during walks.
Dogs and cats are safer indoors during all sorts of extreme weather.
. If outside, dress in several layers of loose fitting, lightweight
clothing, rather than a single layer of heavy clothing. Outer garments
should be tightly woven and water repellent. Wear a hat, mittens and sturdy
waterproof boots, protecting your extremities. Cover your mouth with a
scarf to protect your lungs.
. Ensure you have sufficient heating fuel, as well as emergency heating
equipment in case you lose electricity.
. When utilizing alternate heating sources, such as your fireplace,
wood stove or space heater, take the necessary safety precautions. Keep a
fire extinguisher handy; ensuring everyone knows how to use it properly.
Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors.
. If you lose your heat, seal off unused rooms by stuffing towels in
the cracks under the doors. At night, cover windows with extra blankets or
sheets.
. Food provides the body with energy for producing its own heat.
. Be a good neighbor. Check with elderly or relatives and friends who
may need additional assistance to ensure their safety.
. To keep pipes from freezing, wrap them in insulation or layers of
newspapers, covering the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture. Allow
a trickle of warm water to run from a faucet that is farthest from your
water meter or one that has frozen in the past. This will keep the water
moving so that it cannot freeze. Learn how to shut off your water if a pipe
bursts.
. If pipes freeze, remove insulation, completely open all faucets and
pour hot water over the pipes or wrap them with towels soaked in hot water,
starting where they are most exposed to the cold. A hand-held hair dryer,
used with caution, also works well.
. Make sure your car is properly winterized. Keep the gas tank at least
half-full. Carry a Winter Emergency Car Kit in the trunk including
blankets, extra clothing, flashlight with spare batteries, a can and
waterproof matches (to melt snow for drinking water), non-perishable foods,
windshields scraper, shovel, sand, towrope and jumper cables.
Thanks, John. Good advice for all of us. Stay warm, dear readers!
For "Around Town on the Web",
Cathy H-B
"Around Town on the Web" is a community service that has been provided to
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