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1/7/24 blog post

lost power and more - keeping safe in the storm

 

With the expected winter storm, Dayton Children’s wants to share some safety tips for families and children.

lost power - what to consider

staying warm

If you use a fireplace, wood stove or portable heater, make sure to keep anything flammable at least three feet away.

If you use a generator during power outages, remember that it must be kept outdoors in a well-ventilated area at least 20 feet away from windows. What does 20 feet look like? Imagine laying three king size mattresses end to end from the outside wall of your house. That’s how far away the generator needs to be.

There is a severe risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from fumes from a generator, camp stoves or grills. If you or your children experience dizziness, headaches, fainting, nausea or vomiting, leave the home and call 911 immediately.

Having a carbon monoxide detector in your home, especially near the bedrooms can be lifesaving. It will alert you to carbon monoxide leaks.

food

Leave the refrigerator closed as much as possible to conserve the cold air. An unopened refrigerator will keep foods cold for about four hours. A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours; only 24 hours if it is half full. If in doubt as to whether a food is still good or not, throw it out. Don’t take the chance. Learn more here. 

icy conditions

Stay at home, if possible, but if you have to go out, make sure children are buckled with the proper restraint for their size and age.  Remove coats while a child is in a car seat to ensure they are secured snugly. Cover them with the coat and/or blankets once they are buckled. Check out this blog on how to see if your child's coat is too bulky. 

playing outside

downed power lines

Heavy ice and snow can bring down power lines. If these lines are still “hot,” touching or stepping on one can be deadly. Before your children go outside to play, make sure to check the area for any downed power lines.

snow

Once the storm has passed, kids will want to play in the snow. Watch out for those areas that may still be very icy. Kids playing outside should have multiple layers of warm clothes, under their coat. Snow pants are helpful in keeping them dry. Make sure they have gloves, mittens, hats and scarves to keep as much skin covered as possible.

sledding

Sledding can be great fun when there is a lot of snow on the ground. To avoid injuries, make sure your kids are sledding safely. Survey the area to make sure there are no downed power lines, tree stumps or other objects hidden under the snow in the sledding area that could be dangerous. Kids should always sled on their bottom, never head-first. Learn more about sledding safety here.