American Red Cross South Jersey Region offers cold-weather safety tips

“American Red Cross South Jersey Region urges everyone to stay safe in the current extreme cold-weather conditions. To stay safe during this weather, be prepared with our cold-weather safety tips,” said Laura Steinmetz, community/government relations officer. The South Jersey Region consists of four chapters, including the Jersey Coast Chapter, which serves 1.1 million people in Ocean and Monmouth counties.

Photo via Red Cross
The American Red Cross urges residents to
stay safe in the cold-weather conditions.

To keep protected during winter storms when temperatures are expected to drop below freezing, the Red Cross suggests wearing layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm. Gloves and a hat will help prevent loss of body heat.

Shoveling snow is physically strenuous work. The Red Cross suggests taking frequent breaks. It is also imperative to stay hydrated. Seek medical attention immediately if symptoms of hypothermia occur, such as confusion, dizziness, exhaustion or severe shivering. Watch for symptoms of frostbite, including numbness, flushed gray, white, blue, or yellow skin discolorations, or waxy-feeling skin.

Do not forget to bring pets indoors. Make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.

Avoid frozen pipes by running water, even at a trickle, and keeping the thermostat at the same temperature during the day and at night. Open the kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing, and be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals out of the reach of children and pets. Garage doors should be kept closed if there are water lines in the vicinity.

Download the American Red Cross First Aid App for quick, expert advice on what to do in case of an emergency. The free app is available in the Apple iTunes or Google Play stores. See all Red Cross apps at redcross.org/mobileapps.

To prevent fire danger, the Red Cross suggests avoiding the use of a stove or oven for heating purposes. Space heaters should be kept on a hard, level surface, and anything flammable, such as paper, clothing, bedding, curtains or rugs, should be kept at least 3 feet away from the unit.

If using a fireplace, utilize a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs. Make sure fireplace embers are out and space heaters are turned off before leaving the room or going to bed.

Never operate a generator inside the home, including in the basement or garage, and do not hook up a generator to the home’s wiring. The safest thing to do is to connect the necessary equipment directly to the outlets on the generator.

A winter storm could result in the cancellation of Red Cross blood drives in areas heavily impacted by the weather. Despite the circumstances, hospital patients across the country will still need blood. Consider making an appointment to donate blood or platelets. Blood donors must be at least 17 years of age, meet specific weight and height requirements and be in general good health. Donors should bring their Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID with them. New Jersey allows anyone 16 years of age to donate with parental consent.

A Red Cross blood drive will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Brant Beach on Wednesday, Jan. 15, from 1 to 6 p.m. Appointments can be made online at redcrossblood.org, keyword LBI St. Francis, or by calling 609-494-8861. Walk-ins are welcome.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.