Be Prepared for Cold Weather in Reno

With 9 inches of snow reported yesterday in Tahoe City, 5 inches of snow reported near Truckee and two more big storms heading towards the area, it is smart to be prepared for cold weather in Reno.  Follow these tips during cold weather to keep you and your family safe:

Home Heating

1. Ventilation - fireplaces and wood stoves need to be in a well ventilated area, away from combustible objects.  Make sure they are vented to the outside.
2. Keep combustible items away from portable heaters.
3. Don't burn paper in fireplace.
4. Store a fire extinguisher within easy reach of an area you plan to heat.
5. Invest in a carbon monoxide detector and make sure to keep the batteries fresh.
6. Space heaters

• Do not cover.
• Keep them at least 3 feet from drapes, bedding, furniture or any item that can easily catch fire.
• Keep space heaters away from water.
• Never place them on top of furniture.
• Keep them out of the way of children.
• Plug them directly into an outlet.  Do not use an extension cord. 

Cooking Safety

1. Charcoal and gas grills are for outdoor cooking only.  They are not meant to be used indoors.
2. Electric generators need to be used outside to allow for adequate ventilation.  If they are used indoors, in the garage or near an air intake system, they can create a carbon monoxide hazard.
3. Store gas in a well ventilated area outside of the home, due to toxic fumes that can easily be ignited.
4. When using an electric generator to run your electrial appliances, make sure to use the heavy-duty, outdoor-rated cords.

Lighting Safety

1. Use battery-operated flashlights or light sources instead of candles where possible.
2. If you have to use candles, never leave a lit candle unattended.

Water Supply

1. Leave all water taps slightly open, allowing a continuous drip so that pipes do not freeze.
2. Keep the inside temperatures warm when possible.
3. Open cabinet doors under sinks in the kitchen and bathroom to allow for better air circulation.
4. If your pipes freeze, use an electric hair dryer to warm up the pipes slowly.  Never use a torch or open flame.
5. If you can't thaw out your pipes, you will need to use bottled water or get water from a neighbor.  In an emergency, you can melt the snow outside for water.  Make sure to bring it to a rolling boil for at least one minute to kill most of the parasites or microorganisms in the water.  However, it won't remove the pollutants sometimes found in the snow.

Miscellaneous

1. Monitor your body temperature for all members of the family.  Infants under 1 year old can't make or maintain their body heat like adults do.  Keep them bundled up, keep the indoor temperatures warm and make sure that they don't go to sleep in a cold room.  For senior citizens, monitor the thermostat to keep it at a warm temperature.  Check on elderly friends, relatives and neighbors often to make sure they have an adequate heat source.
2. Conserve heat in your home by closing off rooms you are not using at the moment, keep doors and windows closed as much as possible, close window coverings at night and open them during the day.  If you need to keep the air ventilated for cooking or heating your home, be safe in conserving heat elsewhere so as not to create a carbon monixide poisoning situation.
3. Dress warmly, even indoors.

I hope these tips help you and your family be prepared for cold weather in Reno.