MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930
mebrady@co.pg.md.us @PGFDPIO
Record lows and "dangerous" wind chills are forecast for tonight and throughout the day on Tuesday.
The
Prince George’s County Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department (PGFD)
is reminding
everyone that home fires are more prevalent in cold weather than in any other
time of the year. This is due in part to an increase in cooking and heating
fires. Winter storms can interrupt electrical service and cause people to
turn to alternative heating sources which also contribute to the increased risk
of fire in winter. This reminder involves the safe use of space
heaters, general heating safety tips, Hypothermia and Frostbite prevention and location of Warming Centers.
The civilian, career and volunteer men and women of the Fire/EMS Department want to remind everyone that fire safety and prevention are especially
important during times of cold temperatures. “Temperatures drop and fires
increase,” said Prince George's County Fire Chief Marc S. Bashoor.
According to NFPA statistics space heaters account for about one third of
the home heating fires yet more than 80 percent of the home heating fire
deaths.
The Winter Residential
Building Fires report released by USFA in 2010, reports an estimated 108,400
winter residential building fires occur annually in the United States,
resulting in an estimated average of 945 deaths, 3,825 injuries, and $1.7
billion in property loss.
Cooking
and heating are the top causes of fires during cold weather.
“The winter
season brings the highest number of home fires than any other time of year,”
said Fire Chief Bashoor. “Each winter season, home fires increase in part due
to cooking and heating fires. Fire safety and injury prevention must not
be lost in an effort to stay warm. Stay warm and do so safely. Safety
First ensures everyone goes home.”
The Prince George's County
Fire/EMS Department recommend the following safety tips for space heaters.
Electric Space Heaters
• Buy only heaters
evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters
Laboratories (UL).
• Check to make
sure it has a thermostat control mechanism, and will switch off automatically
if the heater falls over.
•
Heaters are not dryers or tables; don't dry clothes or store objects on top of
your heater.
•
Space heaters need space; keep combustibles at least three feet away from each
heater.
• Always unplug your
electric space heater when not in use.
Turn off at night or
whenever you sleep. - - Never use an extension cord with space heaters - plug
directly into wall socket.
Using
a kerosene heater??? Never refuel indoors. Remove the kerosene
heater outdoors, turn off and wait for it to cool down before refueling and
only use the correct type of fuel.
General Heating Tips
•
Furnaces, fireplaces and chimneys should be cleaned and checked
each year by an appropriate professional prior to using. Clear away any
clutter from these heating devices, at least 3 feet away.
•
Only use seasoned wood in fireplaces, never use ignitable
liquids to start a fire and do not overload your appliance.
•
The 3-foot rule also applies to furnaces and
fireplaces. No combustibles items within 3 feet of these heating
appliances.
•
Dispose of fireplace ash into a metal container and store
outdoors away from structures on a concrete surface. Fireplace ash
can ignite a fire days after they have been discarded.
Finally, ensure your smoke
and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms are working by pushing the test button on the
front cover. If you do not hear an audible warning, replace your alarm
with a new 10-year, tamper proof, with hush feature alarm. Having a
working smoke alarm dramatically increases your chances of surviving a fire. A
working CO detector will protect you and your family from deadly "silent
killer" fumes that may be building up in your home. Remember to
practice a home escape plan frequently with your family.
Residents of Prince
George’s County can contact our "Safety First" smoke alarm program at
301-864-SAFE (7233). A firefighter will install a working smoke
alarm in your home free of charge.
For additional information from the USFA
on Winter Fire Safety; click here.usfire.gov.
Residents
are encouraged to utilize Prince George’s County’s CountyClick 311 system to
obtain information about public services.
Stay Healthy
With
temperatures reaching single digits and dangerously low wind chills tonight,
Prince George’s County Health Department wants our residents to avoid serious
health problems that can occur due to prolonged exposure to cold weather. The
two most common conditions are hypothermia and frostbite.
“All
residents must take precautionary actions as a primary defense against injuries
and illness resulting from extreme cold weather conditions,” said Pamela
Creekmur, Health Officer. “When exposed to cold weather, our bodies lose heat
faster than it can produce it, resulting in bodily injury, illness, and even
death.”
The Health
Department advises all residents to check on your elderly relatives and
neighbors to ensure they have adequate heat and protection from the
cold. Limit the amount of time your pet spends
outside. Indoor pets when outside in the freezing cold, can also
contract hypothermia very quickly.
Hypothermia is one of the serious health
problems that can be caused by exposure during cold weather. If a
person’s body temperature drops below 95 degrees, immediately seek medical
attention.
In mild cases
the symptoms include:
• Uncontrollable shivering
• Pale and cold skin
Other more
serious signs include:
• Confusion or sleepiness
• Slurred speech
• Shallow breathing
• Weak pulse
• Stiffness in the arms or legs
• Or, poor control over body movements
In the case of
serious symptoms, contact the victim’s doctor or call 911.
In either
case, until help arrives or the person is seen by a doctor, move the person to
a warm room, warm the body with dry layers of blankets or clothing, and give
warm beverages.
Frostbite refers to actual freezing and subsequent
destruction of body tissue which is likely to occur any time skin temperature
gets much below 32F. The areas most likely to freeze are toes,
fingers, ears, cheeks and the tip of the nose.
Individual at
risk for frostbite include those with impaired circulation, the elderly, the
very young and anyone who remains outside for prolonged periods. The
danger increases if the individual becomes wet.
Symptoms of
frostbite include:
• Gradual numbness;
• Hardness and paleness of the affected
area during exposure,
• Pain and tingling or burning in affected
area following warming; and
• Possible change of skin color to purple
NEVER
MASSAGE OR RUB FROSTBITTEN AREAS AS THIS MAY CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE SKIN.
Follow these
tips to weather the winter in a healthy way:
• Cover your head. You lose as much as 50
percent of your body heat through your head.
• Wear several layers of lightweight,
loose-fitting clothing. The
air between the layers acts as insulation to keep you warmer.
• Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect lungs from direct,
extremely cold air. Cover your ears and lower part of your face as
well.
• Wear mittens rather than fingered gloves. The close contact of fingers
helps to keep your hands warm.
• Wear warm leg coverings and heavy socks or two pairs of lightweight socks.
• Wear waterproof boots or sturdy shoes to keep your feet warm and dry.
The Prince
George’s County Office of Emergency Management, in collaboration with the
Prince George’s County Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission,
have identified the following local warming centers. Please call for
specific hours of operation or refer to the Warming Centers page on the County
website (www.myprincegeorgescounty)
Warming
Centers
- Harmony Hall Regional
Center (10701 Livingston Road) 301-203-6040
- Suitland
Community Park School Center (5600 Regency Lane)
301-736-3518;
TTY
301-203-6030
- Bowie Community Center (3209 Stonybrook Drive)
301-464-1737
- Seat Pleasant Activity Center (5720 Addison
Road) 301-773-6685;
TTY
301-445-4512
- Deerfield Run Community Center (13000
Laurel-Bowie Road) 301-953-7882;
TTY 301-218-6768
-
Kentland Community Center Park (2411 Pinebrook Avenue)
301-386-2278
TTY 301-445-4512
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