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Post subject: Red Cross on Power Outages
Posted: May 6, 2018 4:16 pm
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 Posts Semi-Regularly Joined: Oct 2, 2013 8:04 am
Posts: 270
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Sharing the Red Cross on Power Outages
Volunteer Michelle Adams https://www.facebook.com/sharingredcrossinformation/  Power Outage Safety Learn how to prepare your home for a power outage and what to do when one occurs How to Prepare for a Power Outage-Prepare in Advance Protecting your family To keep your food from spoiling during a power outage, keep on hand: One or more coolers—inexpensive styrofoam coolers work well. Ice—Surrounding your food with ice in a cooler or in the refrigerator will keep food colder for a longer period of time during a prolonged blackout. A digital quick-response thermometer— With these thermometers you can quickly check the internal temperatures of food to ensure they are cold enough to use safely. Make sure you have access to NOAA radio broadcasts: Find an online NOAA radio station Search for a NOAA radio app in the Apple Store >> or Google Play>> Purchase a battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA radio Have at least a half tank of gas in your car. Get extra containers and fill them with gas. If power is out for an extended time, gas supply may be limited and lines at service stations long. Protecting your pets & animals-Prepare a pet emergency kit for your companion animals. Protecting your home Consider purchasing a generator to power critical equipment during a blackout. Make sure it’s rated for the power you think you’ll need and that you know how to operate it safely. If you have a generator, install carbon monoxide alarms in central locations on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas. This will provide early warning of accumulating carbon monoxide. During a Power Outage Staying Safe Indoors Use flash lights in the dark, not candles. Eliminate unnecessary travel, especially by car. Traffic lights will be out and roads will be congested. If you are using a generator be sure you understand the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning and how to use generators safely. Food Safety Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. An unopened refrigerator will keep foods cold for about 4 hours. A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed. First use perishable food from the refrigerator. Perishables should have a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) or below to be safe to eat. Then use food from the freezer. Use your non-perishable foods and staples after using food from the refrigerator and freezer. If it looks like the power outage will continue beyond a day, prepare a cooler with ice for your freezer items. Keep food in a dry, cool spot and keep it covered at all times. Electrical Equipment Turn off and unplug all unnecessary electrical equipment, including sensitive electronics. Turn off or disconnect any appliances (like stoves), equipment or electronics you were using when the power went out. When power comes back on, surges or spikes can damage equipment. Leave one light turned on so you’ll know when the power comes back on. After a Power Outage Staying Safe After a Power Outage If electrical power lines are down, don’t touch them. Keep your family and pets away. Report downed lines to your utility company. Throw Out Unsafe Food Throw away any food (particularly meat, poultry, fish, eggs and leftovers) that has been exposed to temperatures higher than 40° F (4° C) for 2 hours or more, or that has an unusual odor, color or texture. When in doubt, throw it out! Never taste food or rely on appearance or odor to determine its safety. Some foods may look and smell fine, but if they have been at room temperature too long, bacteria causing food-borne illnesses can start growing quickly. Some types of bacteria produce toxins that cannot be destroyed by cooking. If you are not sure food is cold enough, take its temperature with a food thermometer. If food in the freezer is colder than 40° F and has ice crystals on it, you can refreeze it. Power Outage Checklist: http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_Cu ... Outage.pdf |
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