North Reading Police Give Tips to Survive the Cold

As temperatures drop in North Reading, the police are reminding residents to keep certain safety procedures in mind before they blast up the heat in their homes or shovel snow from their driveways.

“Our number one priority is the safety of our residents, and as a department that is committed to community policing,” North Reading Police Department Chief Michael P. Murphy said. “We are happy to offer information and guidelines that will keep people healthy and secure in their homes this winter.”

Murphy hopes residents will look out for their neighbors, including the elderly. “Shovel their walkways,” he said. “We can all do little things to help each other out over the next few months.”

The North Reading Police Department has offered weather tips and advice for residents to stay safe during the winter:

• Do not use an oven as a heat source.
• Do not run electric or space heaters when sleeping.
• Electric or space heaters should stay at least three feet away from bedding or combustible materials.
• Have stocks of batteries available for radios and flashlights in case of a power outage.
• Do not leave candles unattended.
• Beware of carbon monoxide: Do not warm up cars in the garage, serve the heating system at least once per year, keep carbon monoxide detectors.
• Test smoke detectors and change batteries twice per year. Keep smoke detectors on every floor.
• Dress warmly and cover any exposed skin.
• Shovel the surrounding sidewalks and the nearest fire hydrants during snowfall.
• Clear the tailpipe of a vehicle buried in snow before the vehicle is turned on. The failure to do so has caused multiple deaths in the region, police reported.
• Rental unit occupants should set heat to a minimum of 68 degrees during the day and a minimum of 64 degrees at night.
• Drip warm water overnight in faucets to avoid frozen pipes. Leave cabinet doors open for the heat to reach non-insulated pipes.

Call the North Reading Building Inspector for heating issues or concerns. Anyone with questions can contact the North Reading Police Department at 978-664-3131.

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