Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness
Sudden power outages can be frustrating and troublesome, especially when they are prolonged. Some winter power outages last for more than a week. Everyone should be prepared. When making a disaster preparedness plan and when preparing disaster kits, have enough supplies, food and bottled water/drinks to sustain everyone in the household for at least 72 hours. Consider buying a gasoline-powered generator. Never run a generator in an enclosed area such as a garage or basement. People could die of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The American Red Cross has some suggestions listed in its brochure, "Help! The Power is Out..."
• One or More Coolers - inexpensive, foam coolers can do an excellent job. • Ice - surround your food with ice in a cooler to ensure the food will stay cold. • Shelf-Stable Foods - such as canned goods and powdered or boxed milk can be eaten cold or heated on the grill. • A Digital, Quick-Response Meat Thermometer - to quickly check the internal temperature of food for safety.
Do NOT open the refrigerator or freezer unnecessarily. An unopened refrigerator will keep foods cold enough for a couple of hours. A half-full freezer will hold up for up to 24 hours, a full freezer, up to 48 hours.
If it looks like the power outage will be longer than two to four hours, pack refrigerated milk, dairy products, meats, fish, poultry, eggs and leftovers in your cooler and surround with ice. If it looks like the power outage will be even longer, prepare a cooler with ice for your freezer items.
Q: What if I go to bed and the power is still not on? A: Before you go to bed, pack your perishables into your cooler, if you haven’t already done so, and put in as much ice as you can. Also, when you go to bed, leave a bedroom light switched on. That way, if the power comes back on, the light may wake you so you can check the condition of your food in the freezer. If your freezer food still has ice crystals on them, they can be refrozen.
Q: What if the power goes out while I’m at work or out of the house, and it has been more than a few hours before I return home? A: Try to determine how long the power has been out. Check the internal temperature of the food in your refrigerator with your quick-response thermometer. A liquid such as milk or juice is easy to check. Spot-check other items like steaks or leftovers. If the internal temperature of the food is about 40 degrees, it is best to throw it out. If the food in the freezer is not above 40 degrees and there are still ice crystals, you can refreeze.
Q: What if the power goes out and comes back on while I am out? A: If your freezer is fairly full and you know it has not been longer than 24 hours, the food should be OK. There will be loss of quality with refreezing, but the food will be safe. If the refrigerator was out for more than two to four hours, you are best to discard the perishables.
Flooding affects hundreds of thousands of Americans every year. The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) offers these tips to help Ohioans protect themselves and their children from potential hazards during and after a flood.
Don’t let children drink or put toys in flood waters. Don’t allow your children to play or swim in flood waters. If your child shows any signs or symptoms of illness after being in flood waters such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, contact your physician as soon as possible. If you cannot make it to your physician, go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
If a person receives a cut, burn or puncture wound, make sure it does not come in contact with flood waters. Flood water may contain various bacteria, viruses and other infectious organisms that may cause disease. Flood water may also contain fecal material from overflowing sewage systems. If you are concerned about an injury, check with your physician to see if a tetanus booster is necessary.
Mold is a likely problem in flooded homes. Mold has the potential to affect the health of all family members. It is important to remove all water and fix any leaks before cleaning. Clean hard surfaces with a solution of bleach and water; make sure to ventilate the area when using chlorine bleach. Wear a filter mask and gloves to avoid contact with the mold. Let the bleach and water sit for 15 minutes and then dry the area thoroughly. Wet, porous materials, such as carpeting, wallboard, insulation, wallpaper and furniture should be discarded because they remain a source of mold growth.
Use fans and dehumidifiers to air and dry out the home. If the weather permits, open doors and windows.
Food that comes in contact with flood water can also pose a serious health risk. ODH recommends throwing away any product if there is any doubt about its safety.
ODH also recommends throwing away home-canned goods if the tops have been exposed to flooding. Food in paper containers, cloth or cardboard packaging that has been exposed to flood water should also be discarded, along with soft drinks and condiments using capped containers.
Store-bought canned goods may be saved if they are disinfected prior to opening. Label the can with a waterproof marker, remove the paper label and wash the can thoroughly in hot, soapy water. Rinse well; after washing and rinsing, disinfect can by soaking it for five minutes in a chlorine solution using one tablespoon of bleach (labeled 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite) for each gallon of cool water.
If you have a private well, run cold water for about 30 minutes to allow the well to recharge naturally. Do not save the water. Have the well disinfected and tested before drinking or using for cooking. If you must use tap water, boil it vigorously for at least one minute. If you cannot boil it, add 16 drops of bleach to each gallon of water. Mix thoroughly and allow to stand for 30 minutes. This method should be used only with water that is clean in appearance and free of odors.
Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water Fact Sheet
Drink Safe Water Fact Sheet
Keep Water Safe Fact Sheet
View the ODH response manual “Recovery after the Flood” at: http://www.odh.ohio.gov/ASSETS/CC899ABC49C64DA19CC5F3E5E2A147FB/FloodManual.pdf
With heat and humidity common during summer months, the Ohio Department of Health urges everyone to use extra care in avoiding heat-related stress.
Some medications affect the body’s ability to deal with excessive heat. People should be aware of the possible side effects of their medications and avoid high-heat situations. Pet owners should make sure animals, especially those outside, have plenty of water and a place to get out of the sun and cool down.
Studies show people suffer heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion when the body’s temperature control system is overloaded. Sweating is the body’s natural coolant. In some situations, especially during periods of high humidity, sweating alone will not provide an adequate release of body heat.
Summer activities should be balanced with measures to help the body stay cool. Hot weather demands increased fluid intake.
Drinking plenty of cool (not cold) fluids is the key to avoiding heat problems. Active people should drink two to four glasses of cool, nonalcoholic fluids each hour. Do not take salt tablets without a doctor’s advice; avoid fluids that contain alcohol or caffeine. They can add to dehydration and increase the effects of heat illness.
Children and teens involved in team sports should be closely monitored for signs of heat stress. Coaches should consider rescheduling practice or play held during the hottest parts of the day. Young children may become preoccupied with outdoor play to realize they are overheated. Adults should insist on frequent breaks and bring children indoors for a cool drink.
Plan outdoor activities for either the early morning or late evening, when the sun is less direct. Wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing and a wide-brimmed hat to protect against sunburn. Move to the shade or into an air-conditioned building at the first signs of heat illness. Remember, heat-related symptoms can come on quickly.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion: heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or fainting. People experiencing these symptoms should be moved to a cool, shady or air-conditioned area, and provided cool, nonalcoholic beverages.
Heat stroke is a potentially life-threatening condition, characterized by a body temperature of 103 degrees or more; red, hot and dry skin with no sweat; rapid pulse; headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion; may be unconscious; and skin color may be gray.
Heat stroke victims need immediate medical assistance. Before help arrives, begin cooling the victim with any means possible, such as spray from a garden hose or by placing the person in a cool tub of water.
Summer is also the time for good Samaritans. Citizens should periodically check on their neighbors - especially if they are older or are disabled. They are of higher risk to suffer heat-related illnesses.
Copyright ©2007 - Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness