[Archived] Safety Tips to Use in Winter Months

City Press Release


	City of Alexandria, Virginia Office of the City Manager Alexandria City Hall 301 King Street, Suite 3500 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3211 www.alexandriava.gov Telephone: 703.838.4300 Fax : 703.838.6343

Safety Tips to Use in Winter Months

During the current winter season, residents are experiencing some of the coldest temperatures felt in many years. There are numerous ways to avoid danger and to prepare for sudden changes in the climate. Here are some safety tips from the Alexandria Police and Fire Departments that you should keep in mind.

• Stock an emergency supply of water and non-perishable foods.
• Have a flashlight, battery-powered radio, extra batteries, first-aid kit, and extra prescription medications.
• Keep an adequate supply of home fuel and have alternate heat sources such as a wood stove, fireplace, or space heater.
• If a fire hydrant is on or near your property, take time to clear the snow away from it. Firefighters know where hydrants are located, but finding a hydrant in the snow can take precious seconds away from attacking a fire.
• Do NOT connect a generator to your home’s circuit breaker unless you consult a certified electrician first. Connect generators to the items you want to power. Place generators outside in well ventilated areas.
• Remember that several layers of lightweight clothing are better than a single, heavy layer. Wear a hat outside since most body heat is lost through your head.
• Check on elderly neighbors and relatives because they are more susceptible to hyperthermia.
• Clear driveways and sidewalks since icy surfaces are slippery.
• Make sure that clear space of at least three feet is around all furnaces, hot water heaters, and space heaters.
• Ask a mechanic to check your battery, antifreeze, wipers, thermostat, and tires.
• Keep a windshield scraper, booster cables, bag of sand, blanket, flashlight, first-aid kit, road map, and some non-perishable food inside your car.
• Wrap pipes with insulation, and allow each faucet to drip during cold periods.
• Install and check smoke detectors.
• Have a plan for family members in case you are separated during storms (when adults are at work and children are at school).
• Warm a person’s trunk first if hyperthermia or frostbite is suspected. Then seek medical assistance. Arms and legs should be warmed last, because stimulation of the limbs can drive cold blood toward the heart, leading to heart failure. Put the person in dry clothing, and wrap their entire body in a blanket.
• Maintain ventilation to avoid build-up of toxic fumes if using kerosene heaters. Keep heaters at least three feet from flammable objects. Refuel heaters outside.

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