Check On Your Neighbors In This Weather: Waltham City Officials

WALTHAM, MA — This week has felt like a record setter when it comes to the arctic temperatures. If you have to go out in the weather, health officials from the state to the city are recommending layers, mittens and bundling up with a hat. It's not so bad to look like the State Puff Marshmallow when the threat of frostbite is so present. But officials are also reminding residents that it's weather like this that hits home how important it is to be a good neighbor.

"Check on family, friends, and neighbors, especially the elderly, those who live alone, those with medical conditions, and those who may need extra help," say city officials in their list of tips on how to weather this cold.

Here are some more cold weather safety tips from Mass.gov and see below for tips from Waltham officials:

• Reduce outdoor activities for the whole family, including pets.
• Dress in several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing instead of a single heavy layer. Outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. Wear a hat, mittens (not gloves), and sturdy waterproof boots to protect your arms, legs, hands and feet. Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.
• Follow recommended safety precautions when using space heaters, a fireplace, or a woodstove to heat your home. Keep a fire extinguisher handy.
• Make sure emergency generators or secondary heating systems are well ventilated.
• If you lose heating, move into a single room. At night, cover windows and external doors with extra blankets or sheets.
• Wrap pipes in insulation or layers of newspapers covered in plastic to prevent them from freezing. Let a trickle of warm water run from a faucet to keep water moving through your pipes.
• If your pipes freeze, open all faucets all the way, remove any insulation, and heat the frozen pipe with a hair dryer or wrap with towels soaked in hot water. Never use an open flame to thaw pipes.
• In the event of a power outage, you may need to take extra precautions or go to an emergency shelter to stay warm.
• Know the symptoms of and watch out for cold-related illnesses. Call 9-1-1 to report emergencies.

• SHELTER INFORMATION For those in need, please contact the Community Day Shelter in Waltham (16 Felton St / 781-392-6311)
• HOME HEATING ASSISTANCE Waltham Council on Aging has a Program to provide home heating assistance to Waltham residents aged 60+, November through April. See page 3 for more info: https://www.city.waltham.ma.us/december_2017. Families can also apply for fuel assistance at WATCH CDC's housing clinic on Mondays & Thursdays, 7pm-8:30pm
• SHOVEL OUT NEARBY HYDRANTS WHEN THERE IS A FIRE, SECONDS MATTER The Waltham, MA Fire Department is responsible for shoveling out all hydrants, however you can help them help you by shoveling out the nearest hydrants to your properties. Please clear a wide enough permimeter around the hydrant for firefighters to work (about 3 feet). Make sure to clear a path from the hydrant to the street. CLICK HERE for guidelines on how to locate nearest Waltham hydrant(s) to your property

• SHOVEL OUT ALL EXITS & VENTS Shovel out all exits from your home or business. When there is an emergency, it is important to have more than one way out. It is equally important to keep outside furnace, hot water and dryer vents clear of snow to prevent gases from backing up into the home and creating a carbon monoxide or fire hazard.

• PET SAFETY Please see these Winter pet safety tips from Mass.gov to ensure your pet stays safe this Winter.

• FIRE PREVENTIONDo not overload woodstoves & please be sure that you are properly disposing of ashes. A single ember can remain hot for days, so put ashes in a metal container with a lid away from the house. Many fires start with ashes being put into plastic bags, cardboard boxes, and plastic trash bins. Remember, space heaters need their space. Do not place them next to or near any flammable objects. Click here for space heater safety tips from Mass.gov Test your smoke alarms & Carbon Monoxide detectors to make sure they are working. If you are using candles, please place them in a location that is safe and away from children. Do not use your oven for heat & do not use any type of grills indoor, as they can pose a serious risk of CO poisoning. You can prevent freezing pipes by letting hot and cold water faucets drip a trickle, and open cupboards under sinks to let heat circulate around the pipes.

• ESSENTIAL NEEDS Please remember to check on your neighbors and gather this list of essential needs to ensure safety among yourself, your family, and your pets. It is always a good idea to keep electronics charged in the event of an emergency. FLASHLIGHTS BATTERIES / CHARGERS CANDLES BLANKETS SHOVEL WARM SNOW GEAR / SNOW BOOTS PET FOOD BABY FORMULA / FOOD / DIAPERS PRESCRIPTIONS WATER TOILETRIES BOOKS AND GAMES

Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch