# 4223
As I sit with the insides of my calves roasting from an electric space heater strategically placed beneath my chair, the wind chill temperatures on this January morning in normally balmy Florida are in the low 20s (that’s Fahrenheit, folks).
Tonight’s forecast isn’t much warmer.
Remarkably, it isn’t that much colder in southern Missouri, where I hung my hat between 1995 and 2005. And the forecast is for colder temps this weekend.
The good news is, I won’t freeze to death. . even if the power goes off.
Well . . .probably not, anyway.
Part of my confidence is borne from the fact that I have 2 other ways to stay warm (4 if you count bugging out to another location, or borrowing my sister’s cats).
Ninety-nine percent of the time, the electric heat in my humble abode is plenty to stave off the rigors of Florida’s rare temperature tumbles. But that 1% of the time – when the power may fail, or the heater simply can’t keep up – I have a propane backup, warm clothes and copious numbers of blankets.
Granted, I’m a belt and suspenders kind of guy. I like to have backups of my backups.
Hypothermia, and frost bite, can both be life threatening conditions. And sadly, sometimes ill considered attempts to stay warm can result in house fires or carbon monoxide poisoning.
So a reminder today about the dangers of winter weather, and the need to be prepared, no matter what the threat.
First, from the CDC some winter weather safety information.
Extreme Cold: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety
The Extreme Cold Prevention Guide combines all of the key content of the CDC Winter Weather website into one downloadable, printable file. Printing this PDF file ensures that you will have important winter weather health and safety information available even when you're without power or Internet service.
Although the PDF is not Section 508-compliant, all content in the PDF is available in a 508-compliant HTML version on this site. Links to those HTML versions are provided below.
Download the Prevention Guide
- Extreme Cold Prevention Guide
(3.45 MB/15 pages)
List of Webpages Included in the Prevention Guide:
As a paramedic I saw my share of Carbon Monoxide poisonings, and according to the MMWR more than 400 people a year die from unintentional non-fire-related CO poisoning.
Carbon Monoxide--Related Deaths --- United States, 1999--2004
The CDC lists things you can do to prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in your home.
Prevention Guidelines
You Can Prevent Carbon Monoxide Exposure
- Do have your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.
- Do install a battery-operated CO detector in your home and check or replace the battery when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall. If the detector sounds leave your home immediately and call 911.
- Do seek prompt medical attention if you suspect CO poisoning and are feeling dizzy, light-headed, or nauseous.
- Don't use a generator, charcoal grill, camp stove, or other gasoline or charcoal-burning device inside your home, basement, or garage or near a window.
- Don't run a car or truck inside a garage attached to your house, even if you leave the door open.
- Don't burn anything in a stove or fireplace that isn't vented.
- Don't heat your house with a gas oven.
