Cold-weather Tips to Stay Safe and Warm

Houston isn’t hit with temperatures this low very often, so Maura Leon-Barber, Communications Manager with the City of West U., gathered some tips for staying safe and warm in the cold weather since the National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning from today, 9 a.m. through Friday at 8 a.m. Her tips include protecting ourselves, plus our pets, pipes and plants:

People

• Dress in warm clothing, wear gloves, coats and layers when you’re outside.
• Never leave children or the elderly in vehicles during cold weather, as they can act as refrigerators and expose anyone inside to sub-freezing temperatures.
• Never use a generator, grill, camp-stove or any gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning device to heat your home (or any enclosed area). These devices can generate carbon monoxide, which can’t be seen or smelled, but is deadly.

Pets

• Protect your pets by ensuring that they have a warm, safe place to sleep. The best place for a pet is to sleep in a heated environment.
• Do not shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth.
• Never leave your animal in a car during cold weather. Cars can act as refrigerators in the winter, holding in the cold and causing animals to freeze to death.

See more cold-weather tips for pets from the ASPCA.

Pipes

• During cold weather, pipes may freeze, causing water leaks and damage to your home. Protect your home by opening the cabinets under kitchen and bathroom sinks to allow air from your home’s heater to warm the pipes under the sink. Let faucets drip – as moving water freezes more slowly than still water.
• Insulate outdoor faucets and pipes with insulation or newspaper, and be sure to disconnect and drain hoses from outdoor spigots.

Plants

• Protect plants from freezing by covering them with plant-cover fabric, or a light blanket with plastic sheeting on top of it.
• Be sure to group potted plants together, and near the edge of a building. Remember that soil in containers can get just as cold as the air temperature, and cause the roots to freeze, even if the above-surface leaves survive.

For up-to-date weather information, visit the National Weather Service Houston/Galveston forecast office website or sign up to receive West U CodeRED notifications.

See the original post on the City of West University Place’s website here.