What is extreme heat?
Extreme heat is when temperatures are at least 10 degrees above the average high temperatures in an area. These high temperatures last for several weeks. In some places in the U.S., temperatures could reach as high as 130 degrees! Extreme heat is dangerous, because your body has to work extra hard to keep a normal temperature.
What can you expect to happen?
Extreme heat is very dangerous to your health. It is especially dangerous for children, seniors and people with special needs. Get a list of some illnesses and conditions that could result from extreme heat.
Make sure you’re ready. Here are some tips:
- Stay tuned to your local radio or TV stations to find out if extreme heat might be coming. You can also check Weather.com to find out what the weather is like in your area.
- If you can afford it, install air conditioning in your home. Individual air conditioners that go in your windows are less expensive than central air conditioning.
- Keep your storm windows up all year long. This helps keep in cool air.
During extreme heat, you should:
- Stay inside and avoid the sun. If you don’t have air conditioning in your home, stay in your basement or the lowest part of your house where it’s cooler. Or, go to public places that have air conditioning, like malls, libraries, schools, and other community buildings.
- If you must be in the sun, wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. You can find the SPF number on the outside of the bottle.
- Make sure that you keep your curtains or blinds closed on windows that receive sunlight. This can help keep your house cool. You could also cover windows with cardboard wrapped in aluminum foil to reflect heat back outside.
- Avoid working too hard during the day, when it’s the hottest. Your body is working hard to keep a normal temperature, so do your best to not overwork it.
- Drink a lot of water! It’s important to drink a lot of fluids, otherwise you could get dehydrated. Dehydration is when your body doesn’t have enough fluids in it. Avoid alcohol, since this can contribute to dehydration.
- Wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing. This will help keep you cooler than dark and tight clothes. You can also wear a hat to keep the sun off your face.
- Do NOT leave any pets or children in a car. Cars heat up very quickly in extreme heat.
Where can you go to get more information?
Visit the FEMA website to learn more about extreme heat.
What is extreme winter weather?
Many of us experience cold winters. This season can become extremely dangerous. Extreme winter weather, like winter storms and blizzards, often involve dangerous wind chills, heavy snow, and icy conditions.
What can you expect to happen?
Your local TV or radio stations will usually warn you if a dangerous winter storm is approaching. Extremely cold conditions that come from winter storms can be very dangerous to your health and safety. You could be stranded in your home, get frostbite, or get hypothermia (when your body temperature drops way below normal). Learn more.
If you must go outside during a winter storm, do your best to stay warm. Here are some tips on how:
- Wear warm winter clothes, like hats, scarves, water-repellent winter coats, and many layers. Make sure your children are also dressed warmly.
- Protect yourself from breathing in all the dangerously cold air. Covering your mouth, such as with a scarf, can help.
- Drink plenty of liquids. Even though the cold weather may not make you thirsty, you may still be dehydrated, or not have enough fluids in your body. Drink a lot of water, juice, or other non-alcoholic beverages.
What is a tornado?
A tornado is funnel-shaped air that is formed by clouds coming into contact with the ground. This funnel is spinning violently, with winds at speeds of up to 300 miles per hour! For this reason, tornadoes can cause a lot of damage, injury, or death. They can even pick up a car or a house!
Every year, there are around 1,000 tornadoes that hit the U.S. Most tornadoes strike states in the Midwest, South, and Great Plains—an area known as Tornado Alley. See a map of the states that are in Tornado Alley. But did you know that all 50 states in the U.S. have been struck by a tornado at some time?
What can you expect to happen?
A tornado is caused by a severe thunderstorm. If there is a thunderstorm in your area, listen to the radio to find out if there’s a tornado watch or warning.
There also might be an emergency service announcement in your area.
If there is a tornado watch, you should:
- Listen to your local radio stations or watch your local news to find out more. You can also listen to NOAA Weather Radio.
- Stay alert. Keep your eyes and ears open for strong winds, blowing debris, and other signs that a tornado is coming.
- Protect windows and glass in your house. If you have storm shutters, use them. Otherwise, you can use wood to board up your windows.
When there’s a tornado warning and a tornado is striking your area, here are some things you should do:
- Find shelter. Go to your basement. If you don’t have a basement, go to the lowest point of your house or go to a room or hallway that doesn’t have windows. As a last resort, get under heavy furniture and stay away from windows. If you’re outside and can’t find shelter, try to find the lowest point in the ground, such as a ditch.
- Bring your “Go Bag” with you.
- If you are told to evacuate, do so immediately.
Where can you go to get more information?
Emergencies : Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas. It is colorless and odorless, so you will not be able to tell it’s there. If appliances are not installed correctly or are not working properly, they could be releasing carbon monoxide into the air. Even leaving a car running in a closed garage will put you in danger or carbon monoxide poisoning!
What can you expect to happen?
If you have carbon monoxide poisoning, you might have headaches, feel nauseous, or feel tired. You might also feel dizzy or feel like you’re about to faint. These symptoms will often clear up once you leave your home.
How can you prevent carbon monoxide poisoning?
There are things you can do to make sure that carbon monoxide doesn’t hurt you or your family. Take ten steps to make sure your house is safe from the harmful gas.
Finally, if you don’t have one already, you should buy a carbon monoxide detector. The detector will warn you if carbon monoxide poisoning in your home. You can buy carbon monoxide detectors in many stores or online. The detector might cost you some money, but it could save your life. Learn more about carbon monoxide detectors.
If you think your house has carbon monoxide poisoning, you need to:
- Open all windows and doors in your house.
- Leave your house immediately! If you stay exposed to carbon monoxide, it could cause brain damage or death.
- If you or someone else is affected by carbon monoxide, call 911. You need to get medical attention as soon as possible.
- Call your natural gas provider to get an emergency inspection. They will be able to tell you if your house does have carbon monoxide poisoning. They can then find the source of the carbon monoxide and repair it.
Where can you go to get more information?
-
Class A fires are ordinary materials like burning paper, lumber, cardboard, plastics etc.
-
Class B fires involve flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, and common organic solvents used in the laboratory.
-
Class C fires involve energized electrical equipment, such as appliances, switches, panel boxes, power tools, hot plates and stirrers. Water can be a dangerous extinguishing medium for class C fires because of the risk of electrical shock unless a specialized water mist extinguisher is used.
-
Class D fires involve combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium as well as pyrophoric organometallic reagents such as alkyllithiums, Grignards and diethylzinc. These materials burn at high temperatures and will react violently with water, air, and/or other chemicals. Handle with care!!
-
Class K fires are kitchen fires. This class was added to the NFPA portable extinguishers Standard 10 in 1998. Kitchen extinguishers installed before June 30, 1998 are "grandfathered" into the standard.
-
Care and Maintenance of Your Extinguisher
At least once a month (more often in severe environments) you should inspect your extinguisher. Ensure that:
The extinguisher is not blocked by equipment, coats or other objects that could interfere with access in an emergency.
-
The pressure is at the recommended level. On extinguishers equipped with a gauge (such as that shown on the right) that means the needle should be in the green zone - not too high and not too low.
-
The nozzle or other parts are not obstructed.
-
The pin and tamper seal (if it has one) are intact.
-
There are no dents, leaks, rust, chemical deposits and other signs of abuse/wear. Wipe off any corrosive chemicals, oil, gunk etc. that may have landed on the extinguisher.
-
Some manufacturers recommend shaking your dry chemical extinguishers once a month to prevent the powder from settling/packing.
-
Fire extinguishers should be pressure tested (a process called hydrostatic testing) after a number of years to ensure that the cylinder is safe to use. Consult your owner's manual, extinguisher label or the manufacturer to see when yours may need such testing.
-
Emergencies : Chemical Spills, Hazards and Emergencies
What is a chemical emergency?
Chemical spills and hazards don’t just happen in industrial facilities. They can happen in your home, too. Your home is filled with dangerous chemicals, like paints, gasoline, bathroom and kitchen cleaners, old car batteries, and more. If one of these chemicals leaks or spills, your home could become dangerous. Learn more about different chemical and biological hazards.
What can you expect to happen?
If dangerous chemicals leak or spill, they can pose a health hazard, especially if your house isn’t ventilated well.
To prevent a chemical hazard, you should take the following steps:
-
Make sure that each of these chemicals is out of each of your children.
-
Check to make sure that all containers are not leaking and are sealed tight. Some chemicals could be releasing dangerous fumes into the air.
-
-
Get some tips on how to reduce the number of hazardous chemicals or products in your home.
If you are told to evacuate during a chemical emergency, remember to:
Leave your house immediately. If you have time, don’t forget to close and lock all doors and windows. Also, turn off fans, heat, or conditioning. You should also turn off your water, gas, and electricity.
-
-
If you are going to drive somewhere, only drive on streets that the local authorities tell you are safe. Also drive with all of your car windows rolled up, and the air vents, air conditioner, and heater turned completely off.
-
If you are told to stay inside your home, you should:Close and lock all doors and windows. Use duct tape to seal any gaps, such as under your door.
-
Turn off all fans, heat, and air conditioning.
-
Move to a room in the middle of your house, on a higher floor, if possible. Sometimes chemical and biological agents could enter a house but will fall and stay at lower levels.
-
If you think that these harmful agents have entered your house, cover your nose and mouth with a damp or wet cloth.
-
Do NOT leave until you are told to do so. Listen to your local radio stations to find out when it’s safe to go outside.
-
-
-
Emergencies : Thunderstorms
-
What is a thunderstorm?
A thunderstorm is a type of storm that produces lightning and the sound of thunder. These storms often have heavy rain, as well.
The sound of thunder is caused when lightning quickly heats the air around it, expanding the air. As it cools, the air shrinks. This process of expanding and shrinking makes the sound that we know as thunder.
What can you expect to happen?
Thunderstorms usually last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. They typically happen in the summer or spring, when the air is warmer.
Look outside to see if a thunderstorm is coming. Look for dark clouds in the distance. You might even be able to see lightning flashes. You can also check your local TV news or radio stations to see if there are thunderstorm warnings in your county.
If there’s a storm approaching, you should:
Go inside! If you can’t make it to a house or a nearby building, stay in your car and roll your windows up. If you’re not by a car, try to stay as low to the ground as possible. Avoid trees, fences, poles, or any other tall objects.
-
Avoid water. If you’re in a boat or swimming, get to land and shelter right away. Do NOT take a bath or shower during a thunderstorm. Try not to turn on your water faucets and stay away from your sinks. Electricity, which comes from lightning, travels fast in water and in pipes.
-
Turn off your major appliances like your TV and air conditioner. Also avoid using a telephone, unless it is an emergency. Lightning travels fast in wires.