Cold Weather: Staying Safe During Freezing Temperatures

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — It's dangerously cold out there in the Hudson Valley, with some wind chills in the negative numbers.

The Greater NY Red Cross has some tips to help people stay safe during cold weather.

If you can't stay indoors, you will need to protect yourself from frostbite and hypothermia by wearing warm, loose-fitting, lightweight clothing in several layers.

You should make sure coats, gloves or mittens, hats, boots and warm clothing are available for all household members, along with extra blankets.

Before tackling strenuous tasks in cold temperatures, consider your physical condition, the weather factors and the nature of the task.

Other cold-weather safety tips include:

• Bring pets inside during winter weather.
• Eat regular meals — food provides the body with energy for producing its own heat.
• Stay hydrated, but avoid caffeinated or alcoholic beverages.
• Check on relatives, neighbors and friends, particularly if they are elderly or if they live alone.
• Keep the gas tank full. A full tank will keep the fuel line from freezing.

In terms of home heating safety, heating fires are the second leading cause of home fires. The Red Cross said it sees a spike in home fires during the coldest days.

• Keep potential sources of fuel, like paper, clothing, bedding or rugs, at least 3 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, put it on a level, hard, non-flammable surface, such as a ceramic tile floor, not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes.
• Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
• 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.
• Make sure your home has working smoke alarms and you have and practice a fire escape plan.

Frozen pipes can be prevented, the Red Cross said, by keeping the following tips in mind:

• Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.
• When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe — even at a trickle — helps prevent pipes from freezing.
• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.
• If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit.