ST. LOUIS, MO— With the potential for winter weather and dangerously cold temperatures this weekend in the greater St. Louis area, the American Red Cross urges everyone to take action now to protect themselves and their families.
“Winter storms can create dangerous conditions very quickly, especially when temperatures drop and roads become icy,” said LaKricia Cox, Executive Director, Red Cross of Greater St. Louis. “Preparing now and knowing what to do before a storm arrives can help protect you and your family from winter weather emergencies.”
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 three feet from the heat. Turn portable heaters off when you leave the room or go to sleep. Find more information on how to heat your home safely here.
- 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.
- Be careful walking on snow or ice and avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. If possible, work with a partner and take frequent breaks.
POWER OUTAGE:
- During a power outage, unplug appliances and electronics. Leave one light on, so you’ll know when power is restored. Use flashlights or battery-operated lanterns — not candles — to help avoid fires. Don’t drive unless necessary. roads could be congested. Check with loved ones and neighbors to see if they need help.
- Food Safety. Keep food cold. When in doubt, throw it out. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to help keep food cold. Use coolers with ice if necessary. Throw out perishable food that has been warmer than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
GENERATOR DO’S AND DON’TS:
- Never use a generator inside. This also goes for grills, camp stoves or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal burning devices. Keep this equipment outside and away from doors, windows and vents. Carbon monoxide kills. If you start to feel sick, dizzy or weak, get to fresh air right away. Keep the generator dry and plug appliances directly into the generator. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet.
FROSTBITE AND HYPOTHERMIA:
- Areas first affected by the cold include your nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers and toes. 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.
FROZEN PIPES:
- Pipes that freeze most frequently are outdoor lines, pipes in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets, and pipes that run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation. Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Remove, drain, and store hoses. Close inside valves supplying outdoor hose bibs. Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
Download the free Red Cross Emergency app for weather alerts, open Red Cross shelter locations and safety steps for different emergencies. Choose whether you want to view the content in English or Spanish with an easy-to-find language selector. Find these and all of the Red Cross apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.
Hazardous weather conditions can also make it tougher to move vital blood products, potentially affecting deliveries to hospitals in some locations. The Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage as requests from hospitals exceed the available supply of blood, drawing down the blood supply by about 35% over the past month. Donors in areas unaffected by weather are crucial to ensuring those in need of transfusions have access to lifesaving care across the country. Make an appointment to give blood or platelets by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
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.