Check on older Ohioans when it’s this cold

VW independent/submitted information

COLUMBUS — With sustained, bitter cold temperatures and dangerous wind chills predicted for all of the state this week, the Ohio Department of Aging reminds all Ohioans to treat extreme temperatures just as they would a coming snow or ice storm. Be prepared and check on older loved ones and neighbors before, during, and after the mercury drops.

“Extremely cold temperatures can take a physical toll on all of us, but also threaten important parts of community and home infrastructure that we and our older loved ones rely upon to stay safe and comfortable in our homes,” said Ursel McElroy, director of the department. “Take some time before the temperature drops to ensure you are ready for the worst and have a plan in place should your health be affected, or it becomes unsafe to stay in your home.”

Body changes as we age, prescription medications, and more can make older adults more susceptible to the ravages of bitter cold temperatures. In addition, prolonged cold conditions like those expected this week raise the risk of freezing home plumbing, community water main breaks, automobile failure, transportation interruptions, power outages, home heating system failures and more.

To prepare:

• Assemble an emergency kit that includes a battery-operated radio, a flashlight and extra batteries, extra blankets and warm clothing, food that you can open and prepare easily and plenty of clean drinking water (at least one gallon per person per day), in case water supply lines are compromised.
• Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls of your home and turn faucets to a slow drip to help prevent pipes from freezing. Place rolled-up towels or blankets around drafty windows and doors to help keep the cold air outside and the warm air inside.
• Know where the main valves and switches are for gas, water, and electricity and ensure someone can operate them should they need to be shut off.
• If people must use portable space heaters to warm their home, check that they have been tested and certified to the latest safety standards. Keep heat sources at least three feet from combustible items, like papers, blankets, and curtains. Never leave a fireplace or portable heater unattended; turn off heaters and extinguish flames when leaving the room or going to bed. Never use appliances that weren’t designed to heat a home, such as cooking stoves and ovens, for that purpose.
• Have a plan for a safe, warm place to go, and a way to get there, if it becomes unsafe to stay in a person’s home.

Throughout the week, Ohioans should call or visit older loved ones and neighbors to ensure they are safe, warm, and healthy, and have the means to stay that way: 

• Is the temperature in their home comfortable? Do they have safe means to keep it that way if outdoor temperatures remain frigid?
• Do they need medical attention? Do they appear alert and aware? Have they fallen? Are they staying warm enough? Are they taking their medications as prescribed?
• Do they have safe food and water? Are they eating and drinking regularly?
• Whom will they call if they need help? Do they have access to a phone that will work without power or landline service?

Ohioans who live in nursing homes also can be at increased risk from severe winter weather. The Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman at the Department of Aging advises family members and concerned friends to call loved ones’ nursing homes to check conditions there and ask how the facility is staffed.

Visit www.aging.ohio.gov/safeathome for additional tips and resources to prepare for severe weather and other emergencies. 

If Ohio residents or an older loved one become ill or injured during the storm, or if it becomes unsafe to stay in a home for any reason, call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance. Check local media or call local law enforcement to learn about the availability of warming centers or emergency shelters. An area agency on aging can help identify emergency resources and services in a community. Visit the Ohio Department of Aging’s website (www.aging.ohio.gov) for contacts or call 866.243.5678 to be connected to the agency serving a specific community.