Safety Tips can help Keep Residents and Their Families Healthy and Safe. Columbus Public Health (CPH) and Franklin County Public Health (FCPH) are providing Winter Weather Safety Tips to help area residents reduce the number of accidents and cold temperature related risks.

“All of us know that winter weather is here, but some of us may not have prepared for what ‘old man winter’ sometimes brings with him,” said Columbus Public Health Commissioner Dr. Teresa Long.  “Snow, ice, cold temperatures, bone chilling wind and secondary threats such as power outages can cause treacherous conditions which increase accidents and cause harm to residents and the entire community.”

According to public health’s EpiCenter, Columbus Emergency Rooms averaged 180 injury-related visits per day in January 2011. On February 2, emergency room visits escalated to 660 with the vast majority from falls among the adult and elderly populations.

Both Public Health Departments offer the following Winter Weather Tips to keep you and your family healthy and safe:

For Weather-Related Emergencies, including power outages:

• Stock food that needs no cooking or refrigeration.
• Store water in clean containers.
• Keep an up-to-date emergency kit, including:  flashlight; battery operated radio; first aid kit; extra batteries; baby items; sand or cat litter for icy pavement; and, prescription medications.
• Be aware of the risks of carbon monoxide.  Never use a gas range or oven to heat your home or run a generator in your home or basement. Never leave a vehicle running in your garage.

Outdoor Winter Weather Safety Precautions:

• Wear appropriate outdoor winter clothing.
• Use sand or cat litter on slippery pavement.
• Avoid traveling when the weather service has issued advisories.
• Be aware of the wind chill factor.
• Carry a cell phone.

Slip and Fall Tips:

• Don’t put your hands in pockets and don’t carry anything in your hands, use shoulder straps.
• If you have to carry something in your hands and you feel yourself falling, toss the item and use your hands to break your fall.
• Assume all wet areas are slippery and icy.
• Wear footwear that provides traction.
• When in icy or snowy areas, take small, shuffling steps.
• Shovel and apply salt to driveways, walkways, and sidewalks.

“Being prepared for inclement weather is a priority and every family should have a plan,” said Franklin County Public Health Commissioner Susan Tilgner.  “We urge everyone to Be Ready in 3: Make a Plan, Make a Kit, and Listen for additional information.”

For more information on emergency planning and winter weather safety, visit www.publichealth.columbus.gov or www.myfcph.org

Contacts:

• Jose Rodriguez (614) 604-5025 at  jrrodriguez@columbus.gov
• Mitzi Kline: (614) 525-3028 at mrkline@franklincountyohio.gov
• Michael McNutt: (614) 645-2404  at mmmcnutt@columbus.gov

Live Safe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making and fire and life safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. Live Safe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. Live Safe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.