Home Heating Safety
Emphasized During Cold Weather
For
Immediate Release: December 17, 2008
Contact: Howard Sutter (714) 834-2178
(Santa Ana) – Overnight temperatures in some
areas of Orange County will dip below 40° this week, with Public
Health officials urging area residents to use caution when
heating their home.
“While Southern California enjoys moderate
winters when compared to other areas of the United States, the
temperatures in our area this week will be colder than average,”
said Dr. Eric G. Hander, County Health Officer. “Almost every
winter, there are cases in California of people who are overcome
by carbon monoxide gas after bringing a charcoal grill indoors
to provide heat. Never use a charcoal grill or other similar
fuel-burning device to heat the inside your home.”
Residents are also cautioned against using
their kitchen range or oven to heat their homes. Home furnaces
and heaters should be inspected periodically, with needed
repairs performed by a qualified and licensed heating or
plumbing contractor. If space heaters are used, make sure there
is nothing within three feet of the heater that could catch on
fire, such as bedding, drapes or furniture. Never cover your
space heater and never leave children unattended near a space
heater. In the event that electric power is lost during a storm,
never use a gasoline powered generator indoors, in a garage or
near doors or windows where air may enter a home due to the risk
of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas
that at high levels of exposure can be fatal. Low levels of
carbon monoxide poisoning can be confused with flu symptoms,
food poisoning or other illnesses and can have a long term
health risk if left unattended. Some of the symptoms of low
level exposure include shortness of breath, mild nausea and mild
headaches. Moderate levels of carbon monoxide exposure can
present with headaches, dizziness, nausea, and light-headedness.
Every home should have a carbon monoxide detector, which is very
similar to a smoke detector.
To stay warm while outdoors during cold
weather, remember to wear several layers of clothing with an
outer layer that is waterproof. While current forecasts do not
call for below freezing temperatures, area residents are also
reminded to consider the needs of their pets for warm, dry
shelter from the cold.
For more information on cold weather safety,
visit The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at
www.cdc.gov or the California
Governor’s Office of Emergency Services website at
www.oes.ca.gov.
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