FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                      
Contact:  Jason Gerwig
630-407-2947 – (OEM)
December 18, 2008

COUNTY REMINDING RESIDENTS TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS DURING WINTER STORM

WHEATON, IL -- With the threat of heavy snow forecast for DuPage County comes the threat of potential power outages and dangerous road conditions.  DuPage County is encouraging residents to follow these steps to ensure they remain safe during a winter storm:

• Make sure that you have a flashlight and extra batteries, a first-aid kit, and a battery-powered radio to receive emergency information, which may be your only source of communication and information. 
• Have extra food and water, especially high energy food, such as dried fruit, nuts and granola bars, and food requiring no cooking or refrigeration.  Use foods that spoil rapidly first and keep cold food cold.  If food is cold to touch, it is probably safe to keep, use or refreeze.  Meat, seafood, dairy products and cooked food that are not cold to touch should be discarded, and remember:  if in doubt, throw it out.
• Extra medicine and baby items are vital when necessary.  Try to have an emergency heat source nearby such as a fireplace, wood-burning stove or space heater.  It is also important to have enough heating fuel, as fuel carriers may not reach you for days after a winter storm.
• If your power goes out for an extended period of time, turn off lights and electrical appliances except for the refrigerator and freezer. Even if it is dark, turn light switches and buttons on lamps or appliances to the "off" position.  After you turn the lights off, turn one lamp on so you will know when power is restored.  To keep rooms warm, close curtains, cover doors and windows, and close off all rooms that are not in use and do not need to be heated. 
• Do not burn anything inside your home without adequate ventilation to the outdoors.  Never use gas ovens, gas ranges, barbecues, and most portable or propane heaters for indoor heating. These units use oxygen and create carbon monoxide that can cause suffocation.
• All residents are advised to stay inside during a winter storm, but if you must leave your home, be aware of dangerous road conditions.  If traffic lights go out, treat all intersections as 4-way stops – as required by law.  Minimize driving to conserve fuel. You cannot refill the tank during a power outage.  Keep a safe distance from downed power lines and sagging trees with broken limbs.
• Keep your pets indoors as cold weather affects them just as much as humans.  Also ensure pets have up-to-date identification tags as well. 

For more information, please visit www.protectdupage.org. 

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