Stay Safe, Warm when it's Frigid in New City

With this week’s blustery, arctic weather hitting Rockland County, it’s time to remind ourselves how to be really smart when it’s really cold.

How cold is it? Click here for New City’s in-depth weather forecast.

“Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths, and the risk of home fires increases in colder weather,” said Mary Young, CEO of American Red Cross Metro New York. “With the onset of winter across the country, it’s more important than ever to be vigilant when it comes to personal safety and staying warm this winter.”

As we embark on the two coldest months in our calendar, the American Red Cross reminds you of the following ways to take precautions and stay safe and warm:

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas
• Test the batteries in your smoke alarms once a month, and change them if they’re not working.
• Follow the “three feet” rule and keep children, pets and flammable items at least three feet from heating equipment. Turn off portable space heaters when you leave the room and when you go to sleep
• Use gas wisely and never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home. Four percent of Americans admit to having used a gas stove to heat their home
• Use flashlights, not candles because battery-operated flashlights or lanterns are safer than candles during power outages
• Wear layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm. Gloves and a hat will help prevent losing body heat.
• Know the signs of hypothermia: confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. If someone has these symptoms, they should get immediate medical attention.
• Bring the pets indoors. If that’s not possible, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water
• Avoid frozen pipes — run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent them from freezing. Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night to help avoid freezing pipes.
• Minimize travel. If travel is necessary, carry an emergency kit in the event you become stranded.

Learn how to treat cold weather related emergencies by downloading the free Red Cross First Aid App at redcross.org/apps. More information about winter safety is available on redcross.org.