BRATTLEBORO — The National Weather Service in Albany, N.Y., is warning of very cold temperatures for Windham County for much of this week.
Daytime highs are expected to be in the teens Wednesday, and Thursday in Brattleboro. Nighttime lows will range from about 10 below on Wednesday night to about 10 above on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Wind chill values expected to be 25 below zero on Wednesday night into Thursday, according to the Weather Service, which posted a Wind Chill Advisory for the period.
The Brattleboro Fire Department offers the following tips to keep yourself, your family, your pets, and any elderly or homebound neighbors safe during cold weather:
• Monitor weather reports and plan ahead.
• Be a good neighbor. Check with elderly or disabled relatives, neighbors, and friends to ensure their safety.
• Minimize outside activities, particularly the elderly and very young. Dress in several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing, rather than a single layer of heavy clothing. Outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. Wear a hat, mittens and sturdy waterproof boots, protecting your extremities. Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs. Also, consider your pets and limit their time outdoors.
• Excessive exposure can lead to frostbite, which is damaging to body tissue that is frozen. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and a pale appearance in extremities, such as fingers, toes, ear lobes or the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, seek medical help immediately. Slowly warm the affected areas as you await medical assistance.
• Ensure you have sufficient heating fuel, as well as emergency heating equipment, in case you lose electricity. If you need information on heating assistance, call Vermont 211.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors to ensure they are working properly. Make sure that all fuel-burning appliances are vented to the outside. Malfunctioning heating equipment can produce harmful levels of CO.
• Use extreme caution when using portable heat sources. Ensure that there is a 3-foot radius around the heater that is free of all combustibles.
• If you lose power or heat, try to keep pipes from freezing. Leave cabinet doors around them open to allow as much heat as possible to reach them. Wrap them in insulation or layers of newspapers, covering the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture. Allow a trickle of warm water (if available) to run from a faucet that is farthest from your water meter or one that has frozen in the past. This will keep the water moving so it cannot freeze.