Police Offer Tips For Keeping Warm As Temperatures Drop

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — In the wake of a blizzard that blasted the region and an ongoing Code Blue in Camden County, Gloucester Township police issued the following tips for keeping pets warm and safe in the cold weather:

• If pets cannot come indoors, make sure they are protected by a dry, draft-free enclosure large enough to allow them to sit and lie down, but small enough to hold in the pet’s body heat. Raise the floor a few inches off the ground and cover it with cedar shavings or straw. Turn the enclosure away from the wind and cover the doorway with waterproof burlap or heavy plastic.
• Antifreeze is a deadly poison. Wipe up spills and store antifreeze out of reach.
• Keep your home humidified and towel dry your pet as soon as he comes inside, paying special attention to his feet and in-between the toes. Remove any snow balls from between his foot pads.
• Dogs are at particular risk of salt poisoning in winter due to the rock salt used in many areas — often when licking it from their paws after a walk. Store deicing salt in a safe place and wipe your dog’s paws, even after short walks. If your dog ingests rock salt, call a veterinarian immediately
• Never leave your pet in the car during extreme cold; it can act like a freezer, trapping in cold air.
• Pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm in wintertime. Feeding your pet a little bit more during the cold weather months can provide much-needed calories, and making sure she has plenty of water to drink will help keep her well-hydrated and her skin less dry.

The Code Blue in Gloucester Township is in place until Jan. 7, during both daytime and night hours.
The Camden County Health Department and the Office of Emergency Management have worked with each municipality to ensure they have the proper resources to respond to these severe weather situations as part of their individual Code Blue plans. Each municipality has identified its own location to accommodate those in their community seeking shelter from the severe weather.

In Gloucester Township, there are two warming centers:

Hider Lane Sr. Center (Closed on Friday, Jan. 5)
1571 Hider Ln.
Gloucester Twp., NJ
Tel: 856-228-9015
Open: 10:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Gloucester Twp. Boro Hall
1261 Chews Landing Rd.
Gloucester Twp., NJ
Tel: 856-228-4000
Open: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Additional resources are available by calling the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services at 800-999-9045, or by visiting www.camdencounty.com. In the event that the weather causes isolated power outages, residents are reminded to immediately call their utility company so they can identify the location and coordinate crews to restore their power. Any storm has the potential to bring down trees and power lines, so residents need to be extra cognizant of any power failures. Below are numbers and contact info for the two power providers in Camden County:

• PSE&G: 1-800-436-PSEG (7734)
• PSEG website: http://pseg.com/home/customer_service/outage_info/index.jsp
• South Jersey Gas: 1-800-582-7060
• South Jersey Gas website: http://southjerseygas.com/
• Atlantic City Electric: 1-800-833-7476; http://www.atlanticcityelectric.com/home/

The attached image was provided by the Gloucester Township Police Department