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 Take These Safety Precautions When Your Power is Out
Hurricanes and blizzards are major weather events that can cause widespread extended power outages. The stress of being without power seems to make us forget the safety tips the government and media tries to drill in our heads, so print this info and tuck it away in the drawer with your candles and extra batteries.
BE PREPARED
We're lucky enough that we generally have ample warning that a weather emergency may impact us. But don't wait until the warning is issued as you may face long lines, shortages and higher prices. Shop for needed items now, while it's more convenient and you're not rushed and stressed.
 The moment your power goes off, immediately go through your home and turn off all electric appliances and fixtures. Just today (9/1/11) I heard about a nearby neighbor that was blow drying her hair when the power went off. She wasn't home when the power came back on days later and the blow dryer caused a devastating house fire.
 Fill your car with gas. If you're forced to evacuate you may find that gas stations can't pump gas because their power is out, too.
Have a week's worth of food, medicine and safety supplies on hand. If you live in a remote location, away from neighbors and stores, then a larger stockpile is advised. You'll need
* Drinking water
* Fill a bathtub for other water needs such as flushing toilets, cleaning, etc. (extreme cold weather can lead to frozen water pipes, so you'll be happy to have this water if that happens)
*  Canned or prepackaged food that doesn't require cooking or refrigeration
* Paper plates, paper towels, disposable cups
* Non-electric can opener
* First aid kit
* Prescription drugs & other medications
* Fuel for grilling outside
* Gasoline for your generator
* Flashlight and extra batteries
* Battery powered lamps or lanterns (avoid using candles due to fire safety concerns)
* Fully charged cell phone
* Battery operated radio to listen for emergency related news
* Alcohol based hand sanitizer
 FIRE
With no electricity, many of us need to resort to a more primitive form of energy - FIRE - for lighting, heating and cooking. While just a century ago we used fire more than we do today and safety precautions were foremost in our ancestors thoughts, but information which we may never have learned in our plugged-in modern times. We do know that fire, smoke and carbon monoxide have caused millions of deaths and injury throughout the ages; fire has the power to both warm you and to burn you, so use extreme caution.
HEATING
You need a backup source for space heating. Gas and oil furnaces use electric blowers to move heat through your ductwork, so they won't operate during a power outage.
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A vented gas stove, fireplace
or insert is an excellent source
of safe, reliable,thermostatically
controlled heat in a power outage
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Avoid using "unvented" types of heat such as kerosene heaters or vent-free gas appliances
* VENTED GAS FIREPLACES, STOVES AND INSERTS are an excellent source of backup heating
* Never use your gas kitchen range for heat, due to CO hazards
* Never place a space heater on top of furniture or near watter
* Keep the space heater 3' away from furniture and drapes
* Don't leave children unattended around space heaters
* Keep a fire extinguisher on hand
* Have battery operated smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in use
If you plan to burn wood in your fireplace or wood stove during a winter emergency
* Have the chimney and appliance inspected, and cleaned/serviced if needed
* Have seasoned, dry wood stored away, with a cover to keep the wood from getting wet
* Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors monthly; replace the batteries twice yearly
* Keep matches and kindling on hand
 CARBON MONOXIDE
In every major weather event you're sure to hear of deaths and critical illnesses caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. This colorless, odorless gas causes a confused mental state in early onset that can lead to further bad decisions that make the situation worse. Carbon monoxide is a result of burning any fuel: wood, charcoal, gas, oil, pellet, kerosene, gasoline, etc. Using gas ranges to heat and running a generator to create electricity are major sources of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache,
weakness, dizziness, nausea, chest paint & altered mental
status. Severe poisoning causes shortness of breath,
confusion, loss of consciousness and death.
Infants, the elderly and people with chronic health problems such as heart disease, anemia, diabetes and respiratory illnesses are most susceptible to carbon monoxide poisoning. If CO poisoning is suspected, prompt medical attention is crucial!
 * ABSOLUTELY DO NOT pull your generator into your home, including your garage, basement or into any even minimally enclosed space including porches, carports, breezeways, etc.
* Use a heavy duty, outdoor rated electric cord on your generator
* The same rule applies to cooking grills! Keep them outside, well away from your home!
* Keep portable generators at least 20' away from your home.
* Keep the windows closed on the side of your home where the generator is sitting, as fumes can come in with any breeze that's blowing
* Do not run window unit air conditioners on the side of the house where the generator is situated because the AC unit can pull fumes into your home
* Have a functional, battery-operated carbon monoxide (CO) detector in use
FOOD SAFETY
Have non-perishable food on hand that does not have to be cooked or refrigerated. But what should you do with the food you already have in the fridge or freezer? Is your water safe?
 * During a widespread power outage, filters that deliver fresh, clean water may not be working so the water coming from your faucet may not be safe to use for drinking, washing dishes, washing food, brushing your teeth, even for washing your hands.
* Keep some larger containers of purified water on hand for cooking, cleaning and hygiene
*Throw away the food in your refrigerator if the power has been off for 4 hours or more
* Thawed food that contains ice crystals can be refrozen or cooked
* A full freezer will keep food safe for 48 hours (but only for 24 hours if half full)
* If it doesn't look right or smell right, throw it out
* ANY FOOD that has been exposed to flood water must be discarded, including canned food, home canned food, drinking bottles with screw-on cap, snap lids or crimped caps because they cannot be disinfected. Use protective gloves while handling unsafe food and clean your hands with soap and water or sanitizing gel.
This article partly compiled from the wealth of information available at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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