Residents left without heat by Friday’s ice storm are urged to exercise caution as they consider alternate heat sources for their homes.
Carbon monoxide – odorless and lethal – is an especially serious health risk to homeowners. Never use a portable generator in an enclosed or partially enclosed space, including in your home, or in a garage, basement, crawl space, or other partially enclosed area, even with ventilation. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent CO buildup. Place portable generators outside and away from doors, windows, and vents that could allow CO to enter the residence. Portable generators can produce high levels of deadly CO very quickly. In addition to producing toxic engine exhaust, portable generators can cause electric shock or electrocution and fire.
If you have an electric space heater, either portable or fixed, be sure it is certified by an independent testing laboratory. If you have a kerosene heater, use only the correct fuel for your unit. Properly ventilate the area of use. Refuel the unit outdoors only, and only when the unit is cool. Follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions. Keep all heaters at least three feet away from furniture and other flammable objects. Do not leave candles unattended.
“And under no circumstances should barbeque grills be used indoors,” said Randy Sammons, the City of Fenton ’s deputy fire chief. “Grills pose exceptionally high fire and carbon monoxide poisoning risks.”
Exposure to cold can cause frostbite and life-threatening hypothermia. Hypothermia begins to occur when a person’s body temperature drops to just 3° below its normal temperature. Cold temperatures can cause hypothermia in anyone who is not adequately clothed or sheltered in a place with adequate heat. Infants and elderly people are the most susceptible. Elderly people account for the largest percentage of hypothermia victims, many of whom freeze to death in their own homes. Most of these victims are alone and their heating systems are working improperly or not at all. Please check on neighbors and relatives who may be endangered by the cold weather.