Important Extreme Weather Info for Newtown from Red Cross

New Englanders are used to brisk weather conditions but as the area gets ready to brace for the first Arctic blast of the season, the American Red Cross urges caution.

Frigid temperatures are forecast for Connecticut for Wednesday and Thursday. The American Red Cross reminds people to take precautions against the cold. “While the cold forecast for us will be short in duration this time, it is the first truly cold weather of the season,” said Red Cross spokesperson Paul Shipman.

Ways to Protect Yourself From Freezing Temperatures

• Wear a hat, preferably one that covers your ears.
• Dress in layers
• Wear mittens which provide more warmth to hands than gloves.
• Wear waterproof, insulated boots to help avoid hypothermia or frostbite
• Get out of wet clothes immediately and warm the core body temperature with a blanket or warm fluids
• Recognize the symptoms of hypothermia that can be a serious medical condition: confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. Seek medical attention immediately if you have these symptoms.
• Recognize frostbite warning signs: gray, white or yellow skin discoloration, numbness, waxy feeling skin. Seek medical attention immediately if you have these symptoms.

Heat Your Home Safely

• Use caution with portable space heaters
• Place space heaters at least three feet away from anything combustible, including wallpaper, bedding, clothing, pets and people.
• Never leave space heaters operating when you are not in the room or when you go to bed.
• Don’t leave children or pets unattended near space heaters.
• Drying wet mittens or other clothing over space heaters is a fire hazard.
• Make sure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are working properly and replace batteries as necessary.
• REMEMBER: smoke alarms have a finite lifetime and should be replaced after 10 years. Many newer models have long-life batteries that do not need replacing during their 10 year lifespan. More information about preventing home fires is available by clicking here.

• Don’t overload your electrical outlets when plugging in space heaters. Be careful of extension cords that present hazardous walkways.
• Have your chimney connections and flues inspected by a professional and cleaned if necessary prior to the start of every heating season.
• Use a sturdy fireplace screen when burning fires. Burn only wood - never burn paper or pine boughs.
• Create a disaster supplies kit — Get together lifesaving items in both your home and vehicle. Visit www.redcross.org/prepare for more information on disaster preparedness.

Prevent Frozen Pipes

• Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage or in walls adjacent to the garage.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
• When the temperature is very low outside, let the cold water drip from faucets served by exposed pipes or pipes in exterior walls. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing because the temperature of the water running through it is above freezing.
• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night.
• If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55ºF.
• More information on preventing and thawing frozen pipes is available here.

Visit www.redcross.org/prepare for more information on preparing for cold weather.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/ct or visit us on Twitter at @CTRedCross.

Read More:

• Severe Weather Alert for Newtown! Fog and Dangerous Wind Chills
• Near Newtown: Help a Firefighter’s Wife with ‘Hope for Healing’
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