Use open flames carefully and safely for heating, cooking, and light. Avoid letting children use open flames such as candles. The Fire Department may not be able to easily respond to a fire during any kind of disaster or during the first days of recovery.
Child-safe equipment includes battery powered flashlights, hand crank flashlights, light sticks, and solar lights.
Safe indoor cooking:
• Canned heat stove (such as Sterno)
• Portable butane stove (with good ventilation)
• Wood burning fireplace
• Wood burning stove
Do not use charcoal, gas grills, or camp stoves indoors.
Safe indoor heating:
• Fireplace
• Wood burning stove
• Indoor propane space heater
• Indoor kerosene space heater
Conserve heat by blocking or covering leaky doors and windows and closing doors to rooms that do not need to be used. Use sunlight for passive solar heating during the day. Dress in layers. Centralize activities in one or two rooms. Stay warm at night by sharing beds or sleeping bags or by sleeping in a pop-up tent inside the house.
Staying cool:
• Wear loose lightweight clothing.
• Close drapes and blinds to block sunlight.
• Stay on the first floor.
• Open windows a small amount on the second floor of the shaded side of the house to allow rising hot air to escape.
• Drink plenty of water.
• When the wind is blowing, soak a sheet in water, wring it out, and hang it in front of an open window. The wind blowing through the wet sheet will cool the air.
• Use hand or battery-operated fans unless inside temperatures rise above 90 degrees and humidity is above 35%. When temperatures are that high, find somewhere cooler to go.