Cold Weather Safety Tips

It's going to be very cold in Waltham today through the weekend. Please follow these cold weather safety tips from Mass.gov and see below to ensure you and your family stay safe:  

• Reduce outdoor activities for the whole family, including pets.
• Dress in several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing instead of a single heavy layer. Outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. Wear a hat, mittens (not gloves), and sturdy waterproof boots to protect your arms, legs, hands and feet. Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.
• Follow recommended safety precautions when using space heaters, a fireplace, or a woodstove to heat your home. Keep a fire extinguisher handy.
• Make sure emergency generators or secondary heating systems are well ventilated.
• If you lose heating, move into a single room. At night, cover windows and external doors with extra blankets or sheets.
• Wrap pipes in insulation or layers of newspapers covered in plastic to prevent them from freezing. Let a trickle of warm water run from a faucet to keep water moving through your pipes.
• If your pipes freeze, open all faucets all the way, remove any insulation, and heat the frozen pipe with a hair dryer or wrap with towels soaked in hot water. Never use an open flame to thaw pipes.
• In the event of a power outage, you may need to take extra precautions or go to an emergency shelter to stay warm.
• Know the symptoms of and watch out for cold-related illnesses. Call 9-1-1 to report emergencies.
• Be a good neighbor. Check on family, friends, and neighbors, especially the elderly, those who live alone, those with medical conditions, and those who may need extra help.
  
   
• SHELTER INFORMATION
  For those in need, please contact the Community Day Shelter in Waltham (16 Felton St / 781-392-6311)
  
  
   
• HOME HEATING ASSISTANCE

  Waltham Council on Aging has a Program to provide home heating assistance to Waltham residents aged 60+, November through April. See page 3 for more info: https://www.city.waltham.ma.us/december_2017. Families can also apply for fuel assistance at WATCH CDC's housing clinic on Mondays & Thursdays, 7pm-8:30pm
  
   

• SHOVEL OUT NEARBY HYDRANTS
  WHEN THERE IS A FIRE, SECONDS MATTER
  
  The Waltham, MA Fire Department is responsible for shoveling out all hydrants, however you can help them help you by shoveling out the nearest hydrants to your properties. Please clear a wide enough permimeter around the hydrant for firefighters to work (about 3 feet). Make sure to clear a path from the hydrant to the street. CLICK HERE for guidelines on how to locate nearest Waltham hydrant(s) to your property

• SHOVEL OUT ALL EXITS & VENTS
  Shovel out all exits from your home or business. When there is an emergency, it is important to have more than one way out. It is equally important to keep outside furnace, hot water and dryer vents clear of snow to prevent gases from backing up into the home and creating a carbon monoxide or fire hazard.

• PET SAFETY
  Please see these Winter pet safety tips from Mass.gov to ensure your pet stays safe this Winter.

• FIRE PREVENTION

  Do not overload woodstoves & please be sure that you are properly disposing of ashes. A single ember can remain hot for days, so put ashes in a metal container with a lid away from the house. Many fires start with ashes being put into plastic bags, cardboard boxes, and plastic trash bins.

  Remember, space heaters need their space. Do not place them next to or near any flammable objects. Click here for space heater safety tips from Mass.gov

  Test your smoke alarms & Carbon Monoxide detectors to make sure they are working. 

  If you are using candles, please place them in a location that is safe and away from children. 

  Do not use your oven for heat & do not use any type of grills indoor, as they can pose a serious risk of CO poisoning. 

  You can prevent freezing pipes by letting hot and cold water faucets drip a trickle, and open cupboards under sinks to let heat circulate around the pipes.

• ESSENTIAL NEEDS
  Please remember to check on your neighbors and gather this list of essential needs to ensure safety amongst yourself, your family, and your pets. It is always a good idea to keep electronics charged in the event of an emergency. 

  FLASHLIGHTS
  BATTERIES / CHARGERS
  CANDLES
  BLANKETS
  SHOVEL
  WARM SNOW GEAR / SNOW BOOTS
  PET FOOD
  BABY FORMULA / FOOD / DIAPERS
  PRESCRIPTIONS
  WATER
  TOILETRIES
  BOOKS AND GAMES
   

You can also follow this directory of who to call for different needs