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Cold snap hits Antelope Valley

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By now, Antelope Valley residents have experienced some of the nation’s wildest weather fluctuations. From temperatures as high as 110 degrees in Palmdale this summer, to 15 degrees overnight last weekend in Lancaster, public health officials again urge that you prepare for wild weather in this part of the Mojave Desert. With temperatures through the new year expected to fall to near the freezing point, there are methods available to keep warm and, just maybe, help keep the cost of heating bearable.

The National Weather Service announced recently that the average low this winter in the Antelope Valley will hover around 23 degrees. This week, the Los Angeles County Health Officer has extended a cold weather alert for Antelope Valley residents for the rest of the year. That means more frigid temperatures should be expected through the end of the month (anywhere from 12 to 22 degrees).

Each winter, there are reports of people dying because they may have used an unvented gas heater or burn the gas range for heat, or have even converted a garage into living quarters. In this case, they may use a electric heater that, if left on too long, will cause a power surge and result in a fire.

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Also this week, the city of Palmdale urged residents to turn off their sprinklers during the current cold snap, because overspray from lawn watering can turn to ice on pavement and create unsafe conditions for pedestrians as well as vehicles.

“During this very cold weather we’re experiencing, we’re seeing many areas where overspray is hitting sidewalks and streets and freezing up,” said Palmdale’s street maintenance supervisor Bruce Roadhouse. “This is creating unsafe conditions for pedestrians, especially all the children who are heading to school in the morning. By turning off or setting them to water later in the day, it will stop this from happening.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that about 700 people nationwide die this time of year from hypothermia. The CDC also reports that carbon monoxide poisoning is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States—about 500 people each year—with about half of these deaths occuring in the winter months. The odorless, tasteless and colorless gas can be emitted from poorly functioning or unvented furnaces or other gas-powered home appliances. Most victims die in their sleep without experiencing the early warning signs like headaches, dizziness or nausea.

“We want to remind people not to use stoves, barbecues or ovens to heat their homes due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning,” said Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, director of public health for Los Angeles County. “There are places where people can go to stay warm, such as shelters or other public facilities. Children, the elderly, and people with disabilities or special needs are especially vulnerable during such cold snaps. Care should be taken to ensure they don’t get too cold when they are outside.”

Exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide can lead to death in a few minutes. Therefore, if you have a gas heater and the pilot is out, turn off the gas (counter clockwise) and make an appointment with the Southern California Gas Co. and the agency will dispatch a service representative to light the pilot free of charge.

Additionally, because the cold weather may cause an older vehicle to take a little longer to warm up, do not let it idle in a closed garage.

If you use an electric or “space” heater, inspect it for damage. A damaged cord is a safety hazard and can shock you as well as start an electrical fire. Most electric heaters turn off automatically if overturned. Keep furniture, drapes and blankets at least three feet from the front grill of the heater. Turn the electric heater off  and unplug it before you drift off to sleep for the night. Also, do not use an electric heater in the bathroom under any circumstances. Not only water, but steam can cause a fire if the wires inside get damp.

Avoid over loading circuits in your home. Most electric heaters use 1,800 watts of power; a 15-amp circuit in your home has a maximum output of 1,800 watts, so it is advisable to not plug the heater into a “surge protector” that is operating other devices; instead, plug it directly into a wall socket.

If your electricity or gas bill doubles in the winter, you may need to “winterize” your home. This can be achieved by putting more insulation in attics; sealing up drafty windows and doors; cleaning rain gutters (these can get clogged by leaves and other debris which can create an ice dam on your roof), and inspect and/or make repairs to your furnace, wall heater, fireplace/ gas log or wood-burning stove. These home repairs are usually done in the summer months, but there is still time now to ward off high utility bills and keep you and your family warm and snug.

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First, add more insulation to your attic or loft. Heat rises and will escape through a poorly insulated attic. Caulk cracks around windows and doors to eliminate drafts, and add weather stripping to doors and windows. You can also install outlet gaskets to electric outlets on outer walls to help eliminate drafts. Clean your furnace thoroughly and replace the air filter; dirty air filters can clog the flow of air and could start a fire. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, have it serviced by an authorized professional. Chimney sweeps still exist, and they can clean and inspect your fireplace in preparation for cold weather.

In near single-digit temperatures, water pipes can freeze and burst. Wrap pipes are usually in unheated locations, such as crawl spaces beneath the house or in the garage. Be sure  to close outside vents to your house. Vents left open in cold weather is tantamount to simply giving the gas company your money. If necessary, install storm windows. If you don’t have storm or dual-paned windows, you can place plastic wrap in the windows and seal it with weather-proof tape to help conserve heat. Reverse the direction of your ceiling fan. On hot days, fans are tilted to provide an air conditioning effect. In the winter, simply turn the fan in the other direction and have it run counter-clockwise to circulate warm air.

The most important aspect of keeping warm, of course, is adjusting your wardrobe. Add another blanket to the bed—this is the easiest and most reliable way to stay warm overnight. Wear your flannel pajamas or your “long johns” to bed, and keep your robe and slippers nearby to avoid catching a cold when rising the next morning. You can wear heavier socks and wear those summer T-shirts under your garment. Also, fuzzy, long-sleeve sweaters indoors can do in a pinch when trying to reduce heating bills.

You will also want to eat right. A hot breakfast as opposed to cold cereal and milk can make a big difference in keeping warm. Oatmeal, eggs and toast, pancakes/waffles or even a bowl of soup can warm the body to get a good start on frigid, sluggish mornings.

Among the most important cold-weather tips is to prepare an emergency kit in case tree limbs freeze over and fall on a power line. Keep fresh batteries in your flashlight, have a supply of candles available and plenty of matches. If you have an oil-burning lamp, fill it with kerosene only when you need to use it. Have a battery-operated radio, and keep food on hand that can be eaten cold (beans, canned meat, tuna, dry cereal, etc.) and have plenty of water.

Children will be traveling to and from school and, during the holiday vacation, will likely want to go outside and play. Because snow and ice can reflect more than 75 percent of the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays, apply sunscreen to their faces before they go outside. Keep children warm in layered clothing—but not too snug. Winter wear should fit children properly and not so tightly that it restricts movement. Shoes or boots that are too tight can constrict blood flow, causing feet to become even colder. When sizing shoes this time of year, allow room for an extra pair of socks. If possible, opt for wool clothing instead of cotton; wool is more durable and flexible than other materials, is an excellent insulator that will keep children dryer and warmer, and is quick to absorb water.

Supervise your child’s play in cold weather. Ice skating should only be done on ice that has been properly inspected for rigidity. Sledding paths should not be too crowded or too close to roadways. Additionally, because children may not be sweating as much as they do in warm weather, they still need to be hydrated. Give them low-sugar juices that are high in vitamin C, which studies show can lessen the severity and duration of winter colds. Hot cocoa is always a favorite because it will warm the body and is a good source of antioxidants which can help ward off cold and flue.

Your pet probably bears a bigger brunt of cold weather than most people. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) recommends you keep your cat inside, if practical, because they will often stray throughout the neighborhood looking for a warm spot—likely occupied earlier by an animal, wild or domestic—which could have an infectious disease like rabies. Outdoor cats can sometimes sleep under the motor of a vehicle because it is warm. Upon starting the vehicle, yell out or bang loudly on the hood so they won’t be injured or even killed when you start the motor and drive off. Wipe off your dog’s legs and stomach after they wander in and out of sleet, snow or ice.

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“While our pets do have some protection against dropping temperature with their coats, they are vulnerable to overly cold weather like we are,” said Marcia Mayeda, director of the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control. Dogs may ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his/her paws (which themselves may bleed sometimes from hard-pack snow or encrusted ice).

Follow the same rule as you do in the hot summer and don’t leave your dog in a car during cold weather, advises the ASPCA. A car can act like a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death. Cold weather will also cause your dog to use more energy, so increase the amount of food accordingly—particularly protein—to keep your pooch in a healthy condition.

“There are places where people can go to stay warm, such as shelters or other public facilities,” Fielding added. “Children, especially the elderly, and people with disabilities or special medical needs are especially vulnerable during such cold snaps; care should be taken to ensure they don’t get too cold when they are outside.”

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) announced this week the opening of 13 shelter sites as part of its Winter Shelter Program. Lancaster is one of the cities, as well as nearby Santa Clarita that host facilities. Families seeking assistance at winter shelter locations will be connected to the county’s free information and referral line by dialing 211 from any touch-tone phone. That number will offer families appropriate shelter and supportive service linkages through the LAHSA’s Family Solutions Systems..

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