On Our "Virtual Route 99" (Final Year-End Edition): Holiday Safety Tips

 

As the holiday season is before us, our team presents this final edition of The "Virtual Route 99" here in our Esperanza Property with guidance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency as we look forward to the continued privilege to serve in the New Year.

Let's Prepare for Winter! Did You Know? 63% of temperature-related deaths are attributed to cold exposure. Moreover, home heating is the second leading cause of home fires, and winter is when most home fires happen. Cold weather brings many risks: death, home fires, power outages, and more. Understanding the hazards and risks associated with cold weather and winter storms is crucial to protect yourself, your loved ones, community and/or houses of worship during winter. Visit ready.gov to learn about some of the common hazards you might face and how to ward against them. Let's stay #WinterReady.

Stay Safe When Heating Your Home Although trending downward since the early 1980s, heating fires remained the second leading cause of home fires in 2021. An estimated 32,200 home heating fires were reported to fire departments within the United States. These fires caused an estimated 190 deaths, 625 injuries and $442 million in property loss. Follow these tips to help protect yourself and your loved ones against home fires. 6 TIPS to Prevent House Heating Fires Keep anything that can burn at least three feet from all heat sources including fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, portable heaters or candles. Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected each year by a professional. When using your fireplace always keep a metal or heat tempered screen around it to stay safe.  Always use a generator, camp stove, charcoal grill, gasoline or propane heater outdoors and not near windows. Always plug space heaters directly into an outlet, and make sure its cord isn’t damaged or frayed. Avoid using the stovetop or oven to heat your home. It is dangerous because it increases the risk of burns, fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.  For additional information on how to prevent home fires, visit ready.gov and usfa.fema.gov. How to Protect Yourself Outdoors When it's freezing, limit time outdoors. However, if you cannot avoid extremely cold situations – including windchill – follow these proactive steps to protect yourself against the cold weather. 5 TIPS to Stay Safe Outdoors During Winter Wear several layers of loose clothing. Layering provides better insulation. Make sure to protect the ears, face, hands and feet in extremely cold weather. Boots should be waterproof and insulated. Wear a hat; it will keep your whole body warmer. Move into warm locations during work breaks and try to limit the amount of time outside on extremely cold days. Carry cold weather gear, such as extra socks, gloves, hats, jacket, blankets, a change of clothes and a thermos of hot liquid. Avoid touching cold metal surfaces with bare skin. Prepare for Power Outages Winter storms may bring power outages that can disrupt things like communications, utilities, transportation, stores, gas stations and ATMs, and prevent your ability to use electrically powered medical devices. Follow these tips to stay #WinterReady. 6 TIPS to Prepare for Power Outages Keep freezers and refrigerators closed. Throw away any food that has been exposed to temperatures 40 degrees or higher for two hours or more, or that has an unusual odor, color or texture. If you use a generator, ONLY use it outdoors and away from windows. Do not use a gas stove or oven to heat your home. Disconnect appliances and electronics to avoid damage from electrical surges. Have alternate plans for refrigerating medicines or using power-dependent medical devices. Go to a community location with power if cold is extreme and you can’t heat your home. For additional information on power outages, visit ready.gov  Protect Your Furry Friend from the Cold Weather Your pets are an important member of your family, consider them before going outside and/or ahead of winter storms. Follow these tips to keep your pets warm and safe! 4 TIPS to Protect Your Pets During Winter: Bring your furry friends inside when temperatures take a dip!  Wipe your dog’s paws after each trip outside. Ice-melting chemicals or rock salt can cause irritation, sickness or be fatal. Get a jacket, sweater and/or boots for your furry friend. Exposed skin is at risk for hypothermia or frostbite. Bundle up! Keep your pets away from chemicals. Remember: your pet may think antifreeze is sweet, but it can be deadly. For more tips on how to protect your pet ahead of the winter season, visit www.ready.gov/pets and  www.humanesociety.org/resources/five-ways-protect-pets-winter. FEMA Blog: 15 Holiday Safety Tips The holidays are here, and while decorations, travel and meals together bring joy, they also come with risks. Vacationers crowd icy roads, cooks multitask in the kitchen, and, according to the National Fire Protection Association, holiday decorations cause nearly 1,000 house fires in the U.S. each year. A little planning now will give you and your loved ones the gift of safety. A little planning now will give you and your loved ones the gift of safety. Read FEMA's blog "15 Holiday Safety Tips" to learn how to make holidays safe and fun for everyone you gather.  No matter how you celebrate, following these safety tips can help protect yourself and your loved ones, community, and/or houses of worship. For additional information on winter safety, visit ready.gov. #WinterReady Social Media Toolkit Want to teach others how to protect themselves against cold weather? Visit www.ready.gov to access FEMA's #WinterSafety Social Media Toolkit. The #WinterReady Social Media Toolkit contains winter weather safety and preparedness messages you can share on your social media channels. You can either copy these messages directly or customize them to reach your audience. For information and graphics on winter safety, click here.