By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
This past weekend’s high winds that left thousands without power had the Kent County Health Department offering up tips on maintaining proper food safety and generator safety.
According to the Health Department, if properly prepared, most families could deal with the inconvenience of a few hours or even a couple of days without power. Having no power, means that most homes would be without refrigeration, running water and sanitary services. Depending on the season, homes may also not have heat.
The biggest reminder, which also came from Consumers Energy, is to never touch a down power line. If you are uncertain if the line down is a power line, call emergency services for help and treat it like a down power line.
Generators
Those who can will turn to generators to help power the home should remember not to operate a generator indoors as it does produce carbon monoxide, which can kill in minutes.
Because a generator can create 100 times more carbon monoxide gas than a car exhaust, extensive studies have been done into how far a generator should be placed from the home. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half of the non-fatal carbon monoxide poisonings reported during the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons involved generators that were seven feet from the home. While it is recommended that generators be at least 15 feet at the home, studies have determined that may not be far enough as carbon monoxide will still enter the home. A generator should be placed as far away from the home as possible and away from any doors or windows.
To help check carbon monoxide levels in a home, make sure that the home’s carbon monoxide detector has been checked and is working properly.
Refrigeration
Food will last up to four hours in a refrigerator and up to 24 hours in a half filled freezer and 40 hours for a full freezer. So if the power is out for a couple of hours, the food in the freezer will be safe to eat, according to the Health Department.
While the power is out, keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to keep the food cold longer. If possible, have frozen ice packs ready in case you need to move food from the refrigerator to a cooler to keep it safe.
Refrigerated food needs to be at a temperature of 40 degrees or less and frozen food should be between 0 and -10 degrees. Keeping a thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer at all times to help you determine what the temperature of the unit is and if the food is safe. As always “when in doubt, throw it out,” according to the Health Department.
The Kent County Health Department has guide sheets on how to prepare a disaster supply kit with food and other general supplies along with tip sheets on other emergencies such as flooding, water safety, and preventing the spread of flu in the home.
