Extreme Cold Safety Tips 

• Continue to check the media for emergency information.
• Follow instructions from public safety officials.
• Reduce outdoor activities for the whole family, including pets.

• 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.
• Follow recommended safety precautions when using space heaters, a fireplace, or a woodstove to heat your home. Keep a fire extinguisher handy.
• Make sure emergency generators or secondary heating systems are well ventilated.
• If you lose heating, move into a single room. At night, cover windows and external doors with extra blankets or sheets.
• 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.
• Check with your local authorities or Call 2-1-1 to find warming centers or shelters near you.
• In the event of a power outage, you may need to take extra precautions or go to an emergency shelter to stay warm.
• Know the symptoms of and watch out for cold-related illnesses. 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.