Emergency officials give cold weather advice
The Fayette County Office of Emergency Management said its best advice for dealing with the recent siege of arctic temperatures is for people to say indoors as much as possible and be careful when using space heaters. Accidents that take place inside and outside in freezing weather place victims, as well as emergency responders, at risk.
“Whether it’s a police officer investigating a scene, an EMS crew treating a patient at a vehicle accident or a fire department at a fire scene, emergencies in weather conditions such as this put more than the victim at risk,” said Fayette County Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Susan Griffith.
Even non-emergency jobs such as delivering the mail can be hazardous in winter weather.
The Uniontown post office wants to remind residents to keep their sidewalks, steps and porches clear of snow and ice, and salted for the safety of mail carriers.
Overnight temperatures have been below zero since Sunday, but a minor improvement is on the way.
A slightly diminishing wind chill is expected to keep overnight temperatures above zero for the rest of the week, but daytime temperatures are predicted to remain below freezing, said HSTV meteorologist Stephanie Schuler.
Residents using space heaters, especially kerosene heaters, to help keep their homes warm against the recent arctic blast should use them cautiously and in combination with home carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, Griffith said.
All space heaters should be kept away from curtains, bedding, papers and other combustible materials.
Refueling kerosene space heaters can be extremely dangerous. Griffith said there is no safe way to refill one while it is operating. Just a splash of kerosene landing on a hot heater will immediately start a fire, she said.
Kerosene heaters should be shut off and allowed to cool before they are refueled.
Some space heaters also can emit carbon monoxide, which is odorless, but deadly, Griffith said.
Flu and cold symptoms like headaches, nausea and dizziness also are symptoms of low-level carbon monoxide exposure, she said.
Problems with carbon monoxide can develop quickly in homes that are sealed tight for warmth.
People with coronary or respiratory ailments and people with greater oxygen requirements such as unborn babies, infants, children and senior citizens face a high risk from carbon monoxide.
Since Jan. 20, Fayette County 911 has received reports of 22 structure fires, three commercial structure fires, two chimney fires and five carbon monoxide detector activations.