Hazards
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Hazards |
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The high temperatures that accompany summer days can be deadly. The Fanwood CERT reminds you that children, seniors, and people on certain medications are particularly susceptible to heat-related illnesses. On warm summer days, New York City can be as much as 10 degrees warmer than its surrounding areas. The City's infrastructure — largely made up of asphalt, concrete and metal — traps the heat. This is known as the "urban heat island" effect.
Heat waves can also disrupt power throughout pockets of the area. According to the Centers for Disease Control, social isolation and the inability to care for oneself put a person at greater risk for heat-related illness. If you have family members or friends that fit this description - please reach out to them during a heat wave.
A heat wave's duration plays an important role in how people are affected. Studies show that a significant rise in heat-related illnesses occurs when excessive heat lasts for more than two days. Spending even two hours per day in air-conditioned spaces can significantly reduce the number of heat-related illnesses.
Between August and October, when the waters along the east coast warms up, hurricanes pose a serious threat to
the tri-state area, including New Jersey. Hurricane preparedness is an essential part of emergency planning for anyone who travels to the Jersey Shore or any other coastline areas, as well as those who have family and friends who might be affected in those areas.Due to regional geography, hurricanes in in our area — though infrequent — can do far more damage than hurricanes of similar strength in the southern United States. With sustained winds of 74 mph or greater, hurricanes can flatten buildings, topple trees and turn loose objects into deadly projectiles. Along with torrential rains, storm surge is among a hurricane's most hazardous features. A major hurricane could push more than 30 feet of storm surge into some parts of New Jersey.
It's important you take the time to prepare. If you have a home or vacation spot within 10 blocks of a coastal area, it is more likely that you will be directed to evacuate before a severe coastal storm or hurricane. However, all residents should have a plan in the event they need to evacuate or ride out the storm at home. Click here to get some tips on how you can prepare yourself and your family.
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Heavy storms can cause flooding and may knock down trees and power lines, which may create hazardous driving conditions.
Avoid walking or driving through moving water. Six inches of fast-moving water can knock people off their feet; two feet will cause most vehicles to float. Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles, including sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and pick-ups.
Secure outdoor furniture, garbage cans, and other loose objects. Check your storm windows and doors, shutters and park cars in areas where falling trees or debris won't hit them. Water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or raw sewage. Water may be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines. Stay away from downed power lines, and report them to the power company.
Check on friends, relatives, and neighbors, especially seniors and people with special needs, who may need help preparing for the storm.
Check your sump pump if you have one, to make sure it is working. Before a storm hits, make sure you have your "Go" bag and your "Stay" box ready and that items are up to date (not expired) and fresh (batteries, matches, etc.). Click here to get some tips on how you can prepare yourself and your family.
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Exposure to cold can cause life-threatening health conditions. Avoid serious conditions such as frostbite and hypothermia, by keeping warm.
| Wear a hat, hood, or scarf, as most heat is lost through the head.
| Wear layers, as they provide better insulation and warmth.
| Keep fingertips, earlobes, and noses covered if you go outside.
| Keep clothing dry; if a layer becomes wet, remove it. | |
| Stretch before you go out. If you go out to shovel snow, do a few
stretching exercises to warm up your body. This may prevent injury.
| Cover your mouth. Protect your lungs from extremely cold air by
covering your mouth when outdoors.
| Avoid overexertion. Cold weather puts an added strain on
the heart. Unfamiliar exercise, such as shoveling snow or pushing a car, can
bring on a heart attack or make other medical conditions worse. Take
frequent rest breaks, and drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
| Keep dry. Change wet clothes frequently to prevent a loss of body
heat. Wet clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat
rapidly.
| Stay safe. Walk carefully on snowy or icy sidewalks. If using a snow blower,
NEVER use your hands to unclog the machine.
| Maintain an awareness of utilities when shoveling snow. Do not
cover fire hydrants with snow when clearing sidewalks and driveways. Do not
shovel snow into manholes and catch basins.
| Offer to help individuals who require special assistance, including
seniors and people with disabilities. | |
| Snow and rain that collect on roofs become heavy and cause damage to
buildings.
| Remove leaves and debris from roof drains to prevent water from
collecting.
| In addition to cleaning out gutters, clear snow from roofs and drains.
| Flat roofs require special attention. Snow and water should be removed
with drainage systems or manually. | |
Improper use of portable heating equipment can lead to fire or dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. Take precautions to ensure you are heating your home safely.
For more information on how to properly and safely heat your home, please review "Using Heaters in the Colder Weather" from the NYC Fire Department.
| Insulate your home as much as possible. Hang blankets over windows and
doorways and stay in a well-insulated room while power is out.
| Dress warmly. Wear hats, scarves, gloves, and layered clothing.
| If you have a working fireplace, use it for heat and light, but be sure to
keep the damper open for ventilation.
| Open your faucets to a steady drip so pipes do not freeze.
| Eat. Food provides your body with needed energy to produce its own heat
and drinking helps your body avoid dehydration.
| If the cold persists and your heat is not restored, call family,
neighbors, or friends to see if you can stay with them. | |
If your service line, pipes or water meters freeze:
| Open a faucet near the frozen point to release vapor from melting ice.
| Direct a hair dryer or heat lamp at the frozen section, or put a small
space heater nearby.
| NEVER thaw a frozen pipe or meter with an open flame; this could lead to
fire or cause a steam explosion. | |
| Battery
| Antifreeze
| Windshield wipers and washer fluid (check for ice
melting capability)
| Ignition system
| Thermostat
| Lights (headlamps and hazard lights)
| Exhaust system, heater, brakes, defroster
| Oil level (if necessary, replace oil with a winter oil
or SAE 10w/30 variety) | |
Install good winter tires that have adequate tread. All-weather radials are usually adequate for most winter conditions. However, some jurisdictions require vehicles to be equipped with chains or snow tires with studs.
Regardless of the season, it's a good idea to prepare for an in-car emergency. Click here for some additional items to have in your car.
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| Use only portable heating equipment that is approved for indoor use.
| Keep combustible materials, including furniture, drapes, and carpeting at
least three feet away from the heat source. NEVER drape clothes over a space
heater to dry.
| Always keep an eye on heating equipment. Never leave children alone in the
room where a space heater is running. Turn it off when you are unable to
closely monitor it.
| Be careful not to overload electrical circuits. | |
Make sure you have a working smoke detector in every room. Check and change batteries often.
| Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home and check it regularly to
make sure the battery is working.
| Make sure your heating system is kept clean and properly vented; have worn
or defective parts replaced. | Don't heat your home with a gas stove or oven.
| Do not use any gas-powered appliance, charcoal grill, or hibachi indoors.
| Open your garage door before starting your car and do not leave the motor
running in an enclosed area. Clear exhaust pipes before starting a car or
truck after it snows.
| The most common symptom of carbon monoxide poisoning is headache.
However, symptoms may also include dizziness, chest pain, nausea, and
vomiting. In severe cases, people can become increasingly irritable,
agitated and confused, eventually becoming lethargic and lapsing into
unconsciousness.
| If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, call 911, and get the
victim to fresh air immediately, and open windows. |  Learn more about carbon
monoxide
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