CANTON — Chief Wendell Robery and the Canton Fire Department would like to share safety precautions with residents ahead of the expected extreme cold weather.
High temperatures on Friday and Saturday are currently forecast in the upper teens and low 20s. Temperatures may fall below zero on Friday night with a forecasted low of -6, and a low of 14 degrees on Saturday night.
At this time, the National Weather Service has issued a Wind Chill Warning from 10 a.m. Friday through 1 p.m. Saturday. The lowest wind chills are expected Friday night. Dangerously cold wind chills are possible — as low as between 20 and 35 below zero. Wind chills that low could cause frostbite on exposed skin in a little as 10 minutes.
The Canton Fire Department wishes to share the following tips to help keep residents safe in cold weather conditions:
- Reduce outdoor activities for the whole family.
- Remember, if it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pets.
- Don’t keep your pets outdoors for long periods of time during very cold weather. Look for signs that your pet’s feet are uncomfortably cold, which could include them frequently lifting up their paws, whining, or stopping.
- Never leave a pet locked inside a car during extremely cold weather.
- Minimize travel. Keep a winter survival kit in your vehicle if you must travel. Check tire pressure, antifreeze levels, heater/defroster, etc. before leaving.
- Dress in several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing instead of a single heavy layer. Outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. Wear a hat, mittens (not gloves), and sturdy waterproof boots to protect your arms, legs, hands and feet. Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.
- Know the signs of frostbite and hypothermia. Call 9-1-1 to report emergencies.
- Be a good neighbor. Check on family, friends, and neighbors, especially the elderly, those who live alone, those with medical conditions, and those who may need extra help.
- You can wrap pipes in insulation or layers of newspapers covered in plastic to prevent them from freezing. Let a trickle of warm water run from a faucet to keep water moving through your pipes.
- If your pipes freeze, open all faucets all the way, remove any insulation, and heat the frozen pipe with a hair dryer or wrap with towels soaked in hot water. Never use an open flame to thaw pipes.
- Additional cold weather safety tips can be found at mass.gov and cdc.gov.
Home Heating Safety
- Follow recommended safety precautions when using space heaters, a fireplace, or a woodstove to heat your home. Keep a fire extinguisher handy.
- Never use an oven to heat your home.
- Plug space heaters directly into wall outlets. Do not use an extension cord, even a heavy-duty one.
- Turn off a space heater when you leave the room or when you go to bed. Never leave a space heater unattended or running while you sleep.
- Put heaters on a level surface away from places where someone might bump into it and knock it over.
- Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from heating equipment.
- Additional home heating safety information can be found here.
Generator Safety
- Place a generator outdoors facing away from doors, windows and vents. Never use a generator inside a house, basement or crawl space – not even inside a garage with the door open. When possible, place the generator 5-10 feet away from the house.
- Buy appliances, such as heaters and generators, that are tested and labeled by a nationally recognized testing company.
- Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions before using the generator.
- Additional generator safety information can be found here.
Make sure emergency generators or secondary heating systems are well ventilated. Ensure working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are installed on every level of your home and outside each bedroom. Should alarms sound, immediately leave the house and call 911 from outside or from a neighbor’s house.
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