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Prepare Your Library for Winter Weather
By Donna DiMichele | January 2, 2018
Prepare Your Library for Extreme Cold and Severe Winter Weather
Library facilities are subject to the same risks as homes during prolonged periods of extreme cold, especially if the library building will be closed for more than 24 hours. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) gives specific recommendations to prepare yourself and your home. Many of these recommendations will apply to library facilities. Visit Ready.gov page on Snowstorms and Extreme Cold for a comprehensive list of action steps.
The following are some highlights tailored for library facilities.
Review the Staff Communications Plan
- When disaster strikes, it is important to know how you and your staff will contact one another and what you will do in case of an emergency.
Precautions for Your Facility
- Learn how to shut off water valves (in case a pipe bursts). Review your disaster plan to see what steps you should take and make sure you have supplies on hand.
- Use rock salt or more environmentally safe products to melt ice on walkways and prevent dangerous slip and fall incidents.
- Make sure you have a cell phone with an emergency charging option (car, solar, hand crank, etc.) in case of a power failure. Staff should know cell phone numbers for supervisors and peers as relevant.
- Monitor the National Weather Service (NWS) for forecasts; type in your zip code and get information specific to your city or town. You may also sign up in advance to receive notifications from your local emergency services. NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts alerts and warnings directly from the NWS for all hazards. On Twitter @NWSBoston – includes RI news.
- Follow the RI Emergency Management Agency on Twitter @RhodeIslandEMA for current extreme weather news.
During Snowstorms and Extreme Cold
- Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat. Wet clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly.
- If you must go outside, wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. Wear mittens, which are warmer than gloves. Wear a hat and cover your mouth with a scarf to reduce heat loss.
Cold Related Illness: Hypothermia, Frostbite
Frostbite is a serious condition that’s caused by exposure to extremely cold temperatures. If you observe any of the following in staff or patrons, seek medical care for them. Elderly and homeless people are especially susceptible.
- a white or grayish-yellow skin area
- skin that feels unusually firm or waxy
- numbness
- If you detect symptoms of frostbite, seek medical care.
Hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature, is a dangerous condition that can occur when a person is exposed to extremely cold temperatures. Hypothermia is caused by prolonged exposures to very cold temperatures. When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it’s produced. Lengthy exposures will eventually use up your body’s stored energy, which leads to lower body temperature. Warnings signs of hypothermia include:
- Adults: shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech drowsiness
- Infants: bright red, cold skin, very low energy
- If you notice any of these signs, take the person’s temperature. If it is below 95° F, the situation is an emergency—get medical attention immediately.
Carbon Monoxide
Caution: Each year, an average of 430 Americans die from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning, and there are more than 20,000 visits to the emergency room with more than 4,000 hospitalizations. Carbon monoxide-related deaths are highest during colder months. These deaths are likely due to increased use of gas-powered furnaces and alternative heating, and power sources used inappropriately indoors during power outages. Read more about carbon monoxide poisoning on Medline Plus.
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