Tips for Staying Safe During A Power Outage

Day 3 of no power from the "great Halloween snowstorm." Unbelievable, I don't know that anyone was truly prepared for this on the east coast. We were warned about Hurricane Irene and other natural disasters but this was just seemed like more of a "trick" for Halloween.

Whether you were one of the millions on the east coast who lost power over Halloween or you were lucky, chances are that sometime this winter you will lose power. Here are some tips to keep in mind during a power outage in the winter:

• Never bring a grill or other cooking device inside the house, garage or other enclosed space to cook. Not only is it combustible but can cause CO poisoning.

• Generators must be set back from the home. Be sure to check with your town to find out the clearance requirements for both the home and property line. Only generators installed and wired by a licensed electrician should be used. If your generator was not installed by a licensed electrician and is wired into your home, you can cause back feed and injure workers when they are restoring the lines.

• If power is lost for more than 24 hours throw out all food in the refrigerator to avoid food poisoning. Any food in a freezer should likewise be discarded within 48 hours

• If you're charging your phone or other electronic devices in your car be sure that you move your car out of the garage and lock the doors so that children can't climb in and shift the gears

• Shut off all appliances that might have been on when the power went out. Tiny fingers can be near a toaster or other hot appliances when the power comes on unexpectedly

• Never leave a wood burning stove or fireplace burning overnight and keep small children away at all times.

• If you've filled bathtubs or buckets with water keep toddlers away from the area as they can drown

• Never use candles or open flames for light or heat. Stock up on batteries to use for flashlights

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