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Gov. Easley has declared this to be Winter Weather Awareness Week in North Carolina and it looks like Mother Nature has a little reminder in store for us. Parts of North Carolina – primarily the northwestern and piedmont portions of the state – are under various winter weather advisories from the National Weather Service. Therefore, the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety wants to take this opportunity to ask you to remind citizens of the following winter weather safety tips. Thank you.
Winterize Your Home
Check battery-powered equipment - flashlight(s),
portable radio and/or TV. Keep additional, fresh batteries for each.
Have furnace checked. Check heating fuel
supplies. Do not allow fuel to get low because, in snowy or icy weather,
fuel carriers may not be able to reach you.
Check attic and basement insulation. Wrap
basement pipes and hot-water heaters with special insulating “blankets.”
Caulk or weather-strip doors and windows.
Stock up on sand and ice-melt chemicals.
Have an alternate heating source - fireplace,
wood stove, space heater. Equipment should be approved for indoor use.
Properly ventilate room and use strict fire safety measures.
Do NOT burn charcoal indoors.
Have fireplace cleaned by a professional before
use.
Keep space heaters at least three feet away from
any combustible materials, including drapes, carpeting and furniture.
Do not drape gloves, socks, or other clothing
over a space heater to dry.
Keep children and pets away from heating
equipment.
Fuel-filled equipment should be filled outdoors
when completely cooled.
Have a smoke detector on each level of the home.
Check batteries monthly.
Have a fire extinguisher near each heating
source.
Assemble emergency supplies kit:
Extra supplies of high energy food and food
requiring no cooking or refrigeration. (Suggestion for canned foods: 10
cans per person)
Non-electric can opener
Bottled water for three days. (One gallon per
person per day)
Extra warm clothing
Extra blankets or sleeping bags
First- aid kit, including essential medications
Winterize Your Vehicle
Check battery. Recharge or replace if low.
Check oil and replace antifreeze.
Be sure heater, brakes, and windshield wipers are
in good working order.
Keep vehicle’s fuel tank at least half filled for
emergency use and to avoid ice in tank and fuel lines.
Keep emergency supplies kit in vehicle.
Flashlight, extra batteries
Blanket or sleeping bag
First-aid kit
Extra warm clothing
Sack of sand or cat litter
Shovel
Windshield scraper and brush
Tow rope
Booster cables
Chains
If You Are Caught In a Winter Storm:
Stay Inside. When using an alternate heat source
(fireplace, wood stove, space heater, etc.), be sure to:
use fire safeguards; and
properly ventilate the room.
If the power goes out and you have no heat:
Turn off electrical appliances that were on when
the power went off to avoid a power surge when the electricity is
restored;
Use flashlights instead of candles to prevent
fire.
Close off unneeded rooms;
Stuff towels or rags in cracks under doors; and
Cover windows at night.
Eat and drink. Food provides the body with energy to produce its own heat. Keep the body replenished with fluids to prevent dehydration.
Wear layers of loose-fitting, light-weight, warm clothing. Layering clothes keeps you warmer than a single layer of heavy clothing. Remove layers to avoid overheating, perspiration, and subsequent chill.
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