Be safe during extreme temperatures
Preparedness Tips
§ Follow recommendations and guidelines provided by your local emergency management agency, community organizations and other applicable service providers.
§ Dress in layers to stay warm and retain heat.
§ Establish a communication plan to stay in contact with family, friends and neighbors.
§ Download the Red Cross First Aid App.
§ If you leave your home and seek shelter elsewhere due to cold weather, bring the following with you: medications you take on a regular basis, medical equipment, identification, important documents, warm clothes – enough for multiple layers, bedding (blankets, sleeping bags, pillows, etc.), important contact information, cell phones and chargers.
§ If you leave your home, bring your pet with you – and remember to bring items your pet needs like: medicine, food, water, vaccination records, leash/collar, identification and hard sided carrier if appropriate. If you stay home, bring your pets inside or make sure that they can stay warm and have access to fresh water and food.
Home Heating Fire Prevention Tips
§ Keep all potential sources of fuel like paper, clothing, bedding or rugs at least three feet away from space heaters, stoves, or fireplaces.
§ Portable heaters and fireplaces should never be left unattended. Turn off space heaters and make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home.
§ If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor), not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
§ When buying a space heater, look for models that shut off automatically if the heater falls over as another safety measure.
§ Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
§ Keep fire in your fireplace by using a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.
§ Have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces, chimneys, and furnaces professionally inspected and cleaned once a year.
§ Visit www.redcross.org/homefires for more information on how to prevent heating fires.
