Record high cold temps are expected tomorrow, with wind chills in the single digits! Please follow these cold weather safety tips to ensure you and your family stay safe

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

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/sites/g/files/vyhlif12301/f/uploads/novem...

Families can also apply for fuel assistance at WATCH CDC's housing clinic: https://watchcdc.org/community-resource-guide-fuel-assistance/

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. 
• 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.