CORAL GABLES, FL — With snow in the forecast for northern Florida and a wind chill that could make it feel like a frigid 39 degrees even around tropical Miami by early Thursday, officials are offering advice on how to deal with such uncivilized winter conditions in a place where temperatures only occasionally dip below 70 and golf, tennis and swimming are year-round activities.
“As temperatures drop into the 40s, residents may be forced to look for ways to keep warm by using heating equipment,” warned Miami-Dade Fire Rescue on Wednesday. “Miami-Dade Fire Rescue would like to remind residents and visitors that staying warm is important, but knowing how to do it safely can prevent tragic accidents that can lead to serious injuries or loss of life.”
The National Fire Protection Association reports that portable or stationary space heaters account for a third of all home-heating fires and four out of five home-heating fire deaths.
“Although they don’t occur often, winter storms can present challenging health issues and safety concerns in Florida,” added State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. Celeste Philip. “It’s important to take actions ahead of time to guard against cold weather hazards and stay safe during cold snaps.”
Here are some tips to deal with the unseasonable temperatures:
- Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
- Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
- Never use your oven to heat your home.
- Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
- Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
- Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
- Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel-burning space heaters.
- Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
- Heat your home safely. If you plan to use a wood stove, fireplace, or space heater, be extremely careful. Make sure each appliance is properly adjusted and you have followed the manufacturer’s instructions and local building codes for use.
- Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning by never using generators, charcoal grills or gas grills indoors and by installing a CO detector to alert you of the presence of the deadly, odorless, colorless gas. Watch this #FLHealthMinute video to learn more on how to prevent CO poisoning.
- Test smoke alarms monthly.
- Stay indoors as much as possible to keep healthy, safe and warm. Make sure to check on friends, family members and neighbors who are especially at risk from cold weather hazards: young children, older adults, and the chronically ill.
- For outside activities, dress in multiple layers of loose-fitting clothing. Don’t forget to wear a hat, scarf and mittens, or other winter gear.
- Eat well-balanced meals to stay warmer. Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages — they cause your body to lose heat more rapidly. Instead, drink warm beverages such as hot chocolate or hot tea to help maintain your body temperature. If you have any dietary restrictions, consult your doctor.
- Bring pets out of the cold weather and provide them warm shelter.
- Cold weather can displace wild animals. Stay clear of wild or feral animals including cats, bats or raccoons especially if they look sick or appear injured. They could have rabies and hurt animals can also injure you.
The National Weather service is calling for Wednesday night to be mostly clear in the Miami area with a low around 45. It will be breezy, with a northwest wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
On Thursday look for it to be sunny, with a high near 59 and wind chill values as low as 39. Expect a northwest wind of 11 to 14 mph with gusts as high as 18 mph.
Source: www.patch.com
