Safety Tips for Power Outage
Thursday February 12, 2009
Updated 7:00 a.m. Thurs. Feb. 12
LG&E reports that as of 9:00 p.m. Wed. night about 37,000 of their customer homes had lost power due to the strong winds that pushed through the Louisville area.
In the wake of strong winds that whipped through the Louisville area, emergency officials offer these tips for staying safe and dealing with a power outage.
· Generators – Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully when using a gas-powered generator. NEVER use a generator inside your home, near an open window or in a garage. Make sure to store the generator outside, at least 10-12 feet from your home, so dangerous carbon monoxide won’t seep inside your living space.
· Fireplaces –Burn only wood in your fireplace and never leave fires unattended, especially in an area used by children or pets.
· Space Heaters – Portable space heaters should be placed at least three feet away from furniture, walls, curtains, or anything that burns, and always turn them off when you leave home or go to bed.
· Liquid Fuel – If your space heater runs on liquid fuel, such as kerosene, let the heater cool down before refueling it. Adding fuel to a hot heater can cause the fuel to ignite. Refuel your heaters outside, where spills won’t present a fire hazard. Use only the fuel recommended by your heater’s manufacture. Never put gasoline in any space heater.
· Stoves and Grills – DO NOT use a kitchen stove or outdoor grill (gas or charcoal) for heat. If you use a grill to cook, use it outside only; do not bring it inside. Dangerous carbon monoxide may build up inside your home if you use stoves or grills for heat.
Carbon monoxide exposure – If you or someone you know feels faint, sleepy, disoriented or nauseated, you may have been exposed to excessive carbon monoxide from an alternate heating source. Call 911 right away and get outside into fresh air as soon as possible.