Temperatures below freezing and snow are among hazards throughout the region

A major winter storm is impacting millions of people in the central and eastern regions of the U.S. and the American Red Cross is urging those impacted to follow the safety steps below.

Snow has already fallen in much of Kansas, and significant snowfall is in the forecast for Oklahoma in the coming days. Temperatures below freezing have settled in. The storm has left hundreds of thousands of people without power or heat, caused dangerous road conditions, closed schools and forced the cancellation of thousands of flights.

PLEASE GIVE BLOOD The dangerous wintry conditions moving across the country this week have already caused the cancellation of about 100 blood drives and this number is expected to grow as the storm continues. As a result, more than 2,000 blood donations have gone uncollected so far in the new year. Where it is safe to do so, we encourage people to schedule a blood donation appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

WINTER SAFETY Stay warm indoors. If your home becomes too cold, go to a public library, shopping mall or warming center.

• Use care with space heaters and fireplaces to prevent fires. Keep anything that could catch fire at least 3 feet from the heat. Turn portable heaters off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Use battery-powered lights and flashlights instead of candles to prevent fires.
• To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, don’t use an oven to heat your home.
• Carbon monoxide kills. If you start to feel sick, dizzy, or weak, get to fresh air right away.
• If you must go outside, wear layers of loose clothing, a coat, hat, mittens and water-resistant boots. Use a scarf to cover your face and mouth.
• Check on loved ones and neighbors to make sure they are staying warm, particularly if they are older or live alone.
• Be careful walking on snow or ice and avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. If possible, work with a partner and take frequent breaks.
• Stay off the roads when possible. If you become stranded, stay in the vehicle and wait for help.

Stay warm to avoid frostbite and hypothermia. Your nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers and toes are often the first areas affected.

• Signs of frostbite include pain, numbness or a change in skin color.
• Signs of hypothermia, which can be deadly, often include shivering, confusion, drowsiness and slurred speech.
• Act fast and get out of the cold immediately if you see signs of hypothermia or frostbite.
• Get emergency medical care right away.

POWER OUTAGES If you’re using a generator to power your home, please keep it outside and away from doors, windows and vents to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Keep the generator dry and don’t use it in wet conditions.
  • Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning device inside a home, garage, basement or other partially enclosed area: Keep this equipment outside and away from doors, windows and vents, which could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.
  • Operate the generator on a dry surface and don’t touch a generator with wet hands.
  • Turn the generator off and let it cool down before refueling. Gasoline spilled on hot engine parts could catch fire.
  • Plug appliances directly into the generator. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet.
  • Carbon monoxide kills. If you start to feel sick, dizzy or weak, get to fresh air right away.

During a power outage, unplug appliances and electronics to avoid damage from power surges. Leave one light on, so you’ll know when power is restored.

• Use flashlights or battery-operated lanterns — not candles to avoid fires.
• Don’t drive unless necessary. Traffic lights will be out, and roads could be congested.

To prevent illness, keep food cold. When in doubt, throw it out.

• Eat fresh, perishable foods first.
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to help keep food cold.
• Use coolers with ice if necessary.
• Measure the food temperature in your refrigerator and freezer with a thermometer. Throw out perishable food that has been warmer than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

HOME FIRE SAFETY Red Cross Disaster Action Teams have responded to numerous single and multi-family home fires in recent days. Learn what to do should a fire start in your home.

Download the free Red Cross Emergency app for real-time alerts, open Red Cross shelter locations and expert advice on wildfires in both English and Spanish. Search “American Red Cross” in app stores or go to redcross.org/apps.

About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media. 

Space heaters and fireplaces can help keep temperatures comfortable during cold weather. However, all types of heating equipment can be fire hazards if safety precautions are not taken.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, home heating fires happen most often in December, January and February, accounting for almost half of all home heating fires. Heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries, and it is the third leading cause of home fire deaths.

“Space heaters and other types of portable heaters are a great way to heat a single room, or supplement a building’s main heating system, or even make outdoor activities more comfortable
when temperatures are colder than normal,” said Leslie Woolington, Mississippi State University Extension Service risk management and loss control manager. “But you need to make sure you use them safely.”

Woolington suggested safety precautions for using an electric, propane or fuel-fired space heater, either indoors or outdoors:

• Keep heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn, including upholstered furniture, bedding, curtains, clothing, insulation, cardboard and papers.
• Never leave heaters on when unattended. Turn heaters off, unplug electric heaters, and turn off portable propane cylinders when leaving the area.

People should take the same precautions with fireplaces. The National Fire Protection Association recommends taking these additional precautions when using any type of heating equipment:

• Ensure children and pets stay 3 feet away from heating equipment.
• Have chimneys and heating equipment cleaned and inspected by a professional once a year.
• Have stationary heaters, water heaters and central heating equipment installed by qualified professionals.
• Always use the fuel specified by the manufacturer for fuel-fired heaters.
• Use a sturdy fireplace screen to keep sparks from flying into the room. Allow ashes to cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance from the house.
• Test smoke alarms at least once a month.

Mississippi’s Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Connie Dolan said space heaters should only be used as a supplemental source of heat.

“Space heaters are intended only to give your home a little more heat when needed,” Dolan said. “They can easily overload circuits, causing a power failure or fire.”

Dolan pointed out that electric space heaters require a lot of power to run and draw high currents, which is why they should always be plugged directly into a wall outlet.

“Small-gauge, low-quality extension cords cannot handle the high currents that space heaters use,” she said. “Many space heaters draw around 1,500 watts or more and should never be used with an extension cord. The high currents of electricity going through an extension cord can cause the extension cord’s insulation to melt, which could lead to a fire.”

When purchasing an electric space heater, Dolan said consumers should look for units with these features:

• A tip-over safety switch. This switch automatically turns the heater off if it is tipped over.
• An Underwriter’s Laboratory, or UL, mark. This mark is the most common independent safety certification in the U.S. and indicates the device has been tested and approved.
• A thermostat. Thermostats let the user set a temperature and allow the heater to turn off when the desired temperature is reached.
• A long power cord. Make sure the cord is long enough to allow the heater to be a safe distance away from anything combustible.
• A sturdy handle. This allows the heater to be safely moved.

When using a fuel-fired space heater, Dolan offers these safety tips:

• Use fuel intended for indoor use. Never use gasoline. Safe types of fuel are propane, kerosene and natural gas. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when filling a heater with fuel.
• Never use an unvented, fuel-fired space heater indoors. These heaters can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, which can lead to death. They can also emit nitrogen oxide, which can cause respiratory problems.
• Use sealed combustion units. These are much safer to operate than other types of fuel-fired space heaters.
• Hire a professional to install vented gas heaters near an outside wall. Have these heaters professionally inspected once a year.
• Install a carbon monoxide detector if using any type of fuel-fired space heater.

For more information about heating safety and other fire safety measures, visit the National Fire Protection Association website at https://bit.ly/2IrQjrk.