New Yorkers are waiting for severe frosts: how to protect yourself

Фото: Depositphotos

New York City Hall warns residents of the approaching severe frosts. Thermometers will drop below minus 6 degrees Celsius. A strong wind is also expected.

The coldest days of winter

“New York City is facing the coldest days of this winter,” warned the head of the Department of Emergency Management, Joseph Exposito. According to him, city residents, if possible, should stay at home, dress warmly, and also check whether loved ones and relatives are ready for frost.

The most severe weather will be on Thursday, December 15, as specified by the mayor's office, on this day frosts to -10 Celsius will be accompanied by strong wind, gusts to 50 kilometers per hour, on Friday the wind will subside. But only on Saturday evening is warming expected.

The city hall believes that frosts can be deadly for the homeless, as well as those who suffer from alcoholism or use drugs. In addition, the authorities call for special attention to be paid to the elderly, those suffering from chronic cardiovascular diseases, people with developmental disabilities and mental illness, as well as people with disabilities.

What you need to remember during severe frosts

1. Spend as much time as possible indoors;
2. If you go outside, wear warm, dry clothes, do not forget to cover the tips of the nose, earlobes, fingers;
3. Wear a hat and scarf;
4. Chill is the first sign of hypothermia, if you feel cold - immediately return to the room;
5. Refrain from drinking alcohol. It makes you mistakenly feel warm, as a result, the risk of frostbite increases dramatically;
6. If you suffer from chronic diseases - strictly follow the advice of your doctor;
7. For those who work on the street, employers are obliged to provide safe working conditions and means of protection from frost.

The most frequent consequence of severe frosts are hypothermia and frostbite. The mayor’s office reminds you that if you see a person in danger, immediately call for help by calling 911 and try to move the victim to a warm place.

Symptoms of hypothermia: chills, headache, dizziness, problems with speech and coordination, pallor of the face.

Helping the homeless

At the time of frost in the city announced a special emergency situation, at this time, all city services are obliged to help the homeless. No one should be denied shelter, the city hall said.

Safety of heating systems in homes

Emergency officials warn that during severe frosts due to improper use of heating systems, there are many fires. Here are the basic tips for city dwellers:

1. Make sure that the fire alarm in your apartment is working properly;
2. Use only certified heaters. Electric heaters should work only a few hours a day;
3. Keep flammable things away from heaters, do not dry clothes on the heater;
4. Never leave switched on heaters unattended, especially near children.

Photo: New York City Hall

What to do if hot water or heating is turned off in cold weather

Homeowners are required to provide residents with hot water 365 days per year. Heating on frosty days (below + 4 degrees Celsius) should be switched from 10 in the morning to 6 in the evening. In this case, the apartments should be at least 12 degrees of heat. All violations of this rule can be reported by calling 311.

The housing commission of the city will warn the managers of the need to provide the residents with hot water and heating, in case of violation, inspections will be initiated, and emergency measures will be taken to repair heating and water supply systems, if necessary.

Heat preservation and safety measures in the room:

• maximally isolate your home from heat loss, cover windows and doors with blankets, and if possible stay inside a warm room until it gets warmer outside.
• dress warmly: wear hats, scarves, gloves and several layers of clothing.
• If you have an equipped fireplace that you use for heating and lighting, make sure that the ventilation flap is open and the room is properly ventilated. Do not use a fireplace without a protective screen.
• if you cannot provide warmth in your home, contact your friends or family and find out if you can spend some of the coldest days with them.
• Do not use ovens or fuel heaters to heat your home.
• open the taps so that water can drip off and not freeze in the pipes.

If you need urgent help with heated housing, the Home Energy Assistance Program operates in New York City, which can help low-income tenants with heating bills to heat their homes on cold days.

This program can help with the payment of heating bills, even if they are included in your rent, in addition, it can arrange an urgent replacement of pipes, boilers and other devices that are necessary for heating the room.

Availability of this program depends on family size, income and expenses. If you need advice on the possibility of becoming a member of the Home Energy Assistance Program, you can contact the hotline - 212-331-3150 or call 311 mobile number.

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