MSDH Shares Winter Storm Preparedness Tips

Jackson, Miss. — In anticipation of sub-freezing temperatures and icy precipitation throughout much of the state this weekend, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is cautioning residents to take steps now to ensure safety later. Freezing temps, snow/ice, and loss of power or water present hazards to your health, food and safety. Here's what you need to know:

Stay safe from carbon monoxide poisoning

• Heaters that burn fuel, such as a furnace, generator, or gas water heater, produce carbon monoxide that can contaminate the air, causing nausea, dizziness, headaches, brain or heart damage.
• Never use generators, gas or charcoal grills indoors. Outdoors, keep them away from windows.
• Never burn anything in a stove or fireplace that is not vented properly.
• Never heat your house with a gas oven.
• Do not warm your car in a closed garage. If your garage and house are attached, close the door to the house while you warm the car.

Stay healthy from food poisoning

• If you lose power, after four hours, pack milk, meat, fish, eggs and other spoilable foods into a cooler surrounded by ice or a Styrofoam cooler.
• Freezers can keep food safe for up to 48 hours if they are full, 24 hours if half-full.
• If under a boil-water alert, bring water to a rolling boil for 1 minute to kill harmful bacteria and parasites. Don't use contaminated water to wash dishes, brush teeth, prepare food, wash hands, make ice or baby formula. If possible, use baby formula that does not need to have water added.
• Bottled, boiled or treated water is safe to drink during a boil-water alert. Watch for alerts in your area.

Stay healthy outdoors

• Drink warm liquids that do not contain caffeine or alcohol to help prevent frostbite and hypothermia.
• Watch for signs of hypothermia (shivering, slow speech, memory loss, stumbling, sleepiness).
• Watch for signs of frostbite: Your skin may feel like "pins and needles" followed by numbness.

If you have a medical condition, follow these guidelines

• Medication Refills: Make sure you have an ample supply (7-14 days) of medications, including oxygen.
• Emergency Power: If you rely on electricity for medical devices (e.g., oxygen concentrator, CPAP), have a backup power source like a generator, battery backup or portable oxygen tanks.
• Portable Nebulizers/Inhalers: Have portable versions and extra batteries readily available.
• Dialysis: Contact your dialysis center for emergency advice. You can also call the ESRD Regional Network at 1-877-936-9260 for alternate dialysis centers, transportation and resources.

Other resources

• Traffic: Check the Mississippi Department of Transportation's website for traffic conditions and arrange for transportation assistance in advance.
• Shelters: Call 211 to locate shelters, including those equipped for individuals with special medical needs, including oxygen and electricity for medical devices. List of Mississippi shelters

Please also follow guidance from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) at www.msema.org, and the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) at https://mdot.ms.gov.

For more information, visit msdh.ms.gov/winter