Power outages disrupt family routines and if they occur during the winter, the danger of extreme cold can add to the problem. Younger children—especially infants—are at risk for hypothermia. But alternative sources of heat can be hazardous. So how do parents keep their kids warm and safe?
“Preparing in advance is especially important as climate change causes more extreme weather,” said Carl Baum, MD, FACMT, FAAP. “If you are stuck without heat for an extended period of time, consider bringing children to a neighborhood warming house or shelter, and be sure to bring face masks to protect against COVID-19.”
When using a gasoline- or propane-powered generator to keep systems running, make sure to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning by operating generators well outside the house and the garage, and away from windows or other air intakes, Dr. Baum said.
Carbon monoxide is invisible and has no odor, and it can easily build up indoors to levels that are fatal. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may be vague and non-specific. They may mimic food poisoning or a viral illness like the flu. Headaches, nausea, chest pain, and a general feeling of discomfort, especially in several members of a household, may occur.
Below are eight more tips on for safely keeping your family safe and warm. Journalists are encouraged to use these tips for online or print articles, broadcast or radio with attribution to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
- If you are repurposing your car, gas stove, or barbecue pit to generate heat for your home, remember that they were not designed for that purpose, and may produce dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide.
- If anyone shows symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, or if your carbon monoxide detector alarm goes off, move everyone to fresh air immediately. Then you can check possible sources from fuel-burning furnaces, generators, and appliances.
- If you lose power in the winter, wearing extra layers may help if there's a short-term outage. However, you may need to move temporarily from your home to alternate shelter such as a warming center. When choosing where to go, keep in mind that the extreme weather conditions that caused the power outage may also make travel difficult.
- Prepare in advance. Have a “go bag" (for yourself, your children, and your pets) in case you need to leave your home in a hurry. Think in advance about things you and your family will need, such as medications, food, infant formula, clothing, diapers, toiletries, flashlights, and batteries to keep your devices charged.
- Identify alternate places to shelter. Friends, neighbors, or neighborhood warming centers may have power when you don't. During the COVID-19 pandemic, remember to include masks or cloth face coverings in your go bag for anyone over the age of two. The virus can spread quickly when people are brought into close contact.
- Have at least one carbon monoxide detector in your home. It should be battery-powered or have a battery back-up if it's a plug-in type and should meet the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Standard 2034. If you have only one detector, install it close to bedroom areas of your home. This will help wake you up if carbon monoxide levels rise and cause the alarm to sound.
- If you're considering a back-up generator, remember that all generators need a source of fuel to run. And if yours uses gasoline and there are widespread power failures, the pumps at your local gas station may not be running. Permanently installed whole-house generators that run on natural gas or propane may be able to switch on in the event of a power failure, even when you're not home. But they can cost thousands of dollars to purchase, install, and maintain. Also, a personal generator is not a practical solution if you live in an apartment or other group setting.
- Maintain your fuel-burning appliances, including their exhaust ducts, which should be cleaned and inspected annually by a professional service provider.
“Mother Nature has never been predictable, but we’ve learned over time that there are simple steps we can take to make life easier during a power outage,” Dr. Baum said. “We encourage families to prepare as best as they can in advance.”
To request an interview, contact AAP Public Affairs.
More information is available at: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/all-around/Pages/How-to-Prevent-Carbon-Monoxide-Poisoning.aspx
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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.