Power Outage Safety

This blog is dedicated to my Grandmother Atkins, who died of heatstroke during a power outage. I miss you!

[mikeinelart]

Happy April Fools~!

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Throw away any food that has been exposed to temperatures 40° F (4° C) for 2 hours or more or that has an unusual odor, color or texture. When in doubt, throw it out!

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Know where the manual release lever of your electric garage door opener is located and how to operate it. Garage doors can be heavy, so know that you may need help to lift it.

Keep a key to your house with you if you regularly use the garage as the primary means of entering your home, in case the garage door will not open.

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Use a standard telephone handset, cellular phone, radio or pager if your phone requires electricity to work, as do cordless phones and answering machines. Use the phone for emergencies only. Listen to a portable radio for the latest information.

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Turn off or disconnect appliances, equipment (like air conditioners) or electronics in use when the power went out. Power may return with momentary "surges” or “spikes” that can damage computers as well as motors in appliances like the air conditioner, refrigerator, washer or furnace.

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Take steps to remain cool if it is hot outside. In intense heat when the power may be off for a long time, consider going to a movie theater, shopping mall or “cooling shelter” that may be open in your community. If you remain at home, move to the lowest level of your home, since cool air falls. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Drink plenty of water, even if you do not feel thirsty.

Put on layers of warm clothing if it is cold outside. Never burn charcoal for heating or cooking indoors. Never use your oven as a source of heat. If the power may be out for a prolonged period, plan to go to another location (the home of a relative or friend, or a public facility) that has heat to keep warm.

Ok, so this one actually holds a point in my heart I need to share. During a severe storm in Texas, we lost power for an extended period of time. I was able to handle the humid heat, but my grandmother was not. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE think of those who may not be as healthy or able bodied as you during these situations. Make sure they get plenty of water and general care if they need it.

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Use only flashlights for emergency lighting. NEVER use candles during a blackout or power outage due to extreme risk of fire.

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Keep your car tank at least half full because gas stations rely on electricity to power their pumps.

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Before a major storm hits, fill plastic containers with water and place them in the refrigerator and freezer if there’s room. Leave about an inch of space inside each one, because water expands as it freezes. This chilled or frozen water will help keep food cold during a temporary power outage, by displacing air that can warm up quickly with water or ice that keeps cold for several hours without additional refrigeration.

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After a storm, do not approach downed powerlines as they may still be live.

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Follow energy conservation measures to keep the use of electricity as low as possible, which can help power companies avoid imposing rolling blackouts.

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Eliminate unnecessary travel, especially by car. Traffic signals will stop working during an outage, creating traffic congestion.

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Never taste food or rely on appearance or odor to determine its safety. Some foods may look and smell fine, but if they have been at room temperature too long, bacteria causing food-borne illnesses can start growing quickly. Some types of bacteria produce toxins that cannot be destroyed by cooking.

If food in the freezer is colder than 40° F and has ice crystals on it, you can refreeze it.

If you are not sure food is cold enough, take its temperature with the food thermometer. Throw out any foods (meat, poultry, fish, eggs and leftovers) that have been exposed to temperatures higher than 40° F (4° C) for 2 hours or more, and any food that has an unusual odor, color or texture, or feels warm to touch.

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Do not run a generator inside a home or garage.

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While many find power outages to be a fun time to pull out board games or a good book, there are hazards many do not realize. This blog is devoted to raising awareness of these, alongside posting pictures of blackouts.