EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Riley Ernst
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
P: 740-652-2800
Email: riley.ernst@fairfieldcountyohio.gov
WINTER WEATHER

Staying safe in winter weather situations is important for your family’s health. To find information on warming stations available in Fairfield County, please visit our Facebook page or call Fairfield County 211 at 211 or 740-687-0500.


Personal winter weather safety tips include:


  • • Dress Properly: Wear a warm coat and dress in layers to regulate your body heat. Make sure to cover exposed skin, especially your nose, ears, fingers, and toes, as these areas are most vulnerable to frostbite. Hats and scarves help retain body heat, and mittens are more effective than gloves for keeping your hands warm. Choose shoes with sturdy, non-slip soles to prevent falls on icy or snowy surfaces.
  • • Limit Outdoor Time: Limit the time you spend outside in extreme cold. If you must be outdoors, take breaks in warm, sheltered areas to avoid prolonged exposure to low temperatures.
  • • Stay Dry: Wet clothing increases body heat loss, so avoid wearing items soaked by snow, rain, or sweat. If your clothing becomes wet, change into dry layers as soon as possible.
FROSTBITE VS. HYPOTHERMIA

Frostbite is a type of injury caused by freezing. It leads to a loss of feeling and color in the areas it affects, usually extremities such as the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes. You may have a greater chance of developing frostbite if you have poor blood circulation and are not dressed properly for extremely cold temperatures. Victims may be unaware of frostbite because frozen tissue is numb.


Frostbite signs to look out for:

If you notice redness or pain in any skin area, get out of the cold or protect any exposed skin as soon as possible, as frostbite may be beginning. The following signs may point to frostbite:

  • • A white or grayish-yellow skin area
  • • Skin that feels unusually firm or waxy
  • • Numbness

Hypothermia is a condition that occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing the core body temperature to fall below 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius). Hypothermia can also occur when the weather is not cold due to prolonged exposure in a wet or windy environment, while wearing wet clothes, or while sweating.


Hypothermia signs to look out for:

  • • Shivering, then lack of shivering
  • • Pale and cold to the touch
  • • Disorientation, indifference, or confusion
  • • Glassy stare
  • • Unresponsiveness
  • • Slow or no breathing or heartrate
  • • Stiff body with rigid muscles

Populations at higher risk for developing hypothermia or frostbite:

  • • Older adults without proper food, clothing, or heating
  • • People who stay outdoors for long periods (homeless, hikers, hunters, etc.)
  • • People who drink alcohol in excess or use illicit drugs
  • • Babies sleeping in cold rooms

Learn more about Hypothermia and Frostbite.

ALERT-FAIRFIELD
Alert Fairfield logo
Alert-Fairfield County is an emergency notification system used by city and county public safety organizations throughout the United States to issue government-related messages to residents and businesses. The system has the capacity to send thousands of messages via landline, cell phone, TTY, e-mail, text, and fax, all within minutes. Only authorized officials are allowed access to the system.

Activation of the Alert-Fairfield Emergency Notification System will be dependent on the emergency and the allowable warning time. Tornado warnings will be sent automatically when the National Weather Service (NWS) creates a tornado warning.

Enroll in the Alert-Fairfield Notification System.
RESIDENTS URGED TO PREPARE AHEAD FOR EMERGENCIES
Unfortunately, our county always has the potential of emergencies related to floods, tornadoes, snowstorms, thunderstorms and extended power outages. Your Fairfield County Health Department staff tries to anticipate what emergencies we could possibly face and then develop plans to be able to respond to any threats to health and safety.

For the weather related emergencies, health department plans address those things that could potentially put the public health at risk. For instance, if there is a flood and power goes out for an extended period of time, the health department might be called on to inspect temporary shelters to assure hygiene and health issues, or inspect restaurants and grocery stores to make sure food stays safe during and after the power outage.   

An example of a health emergency for your family could be that you all get the flu and have to stay home for several days. Think about what you might do in this kind of emergency. Do you have everything you would need at home so that you would not have to go out?”

There are many good lists of what you and your family would need for an emergency kit.  Everyone should have at least a three-day supply of food and water stored in their homes, with at least one gallon of water per person per day.  If you have the space, experts recommend a week’s supply of food and water. Don’t forget your pets or any livestock. Choose foods that don’t require refrigeration and are not high in salt.

Food you could store might include ready to eat canned meats, fruits, vegetables and soups. Also, have enough medications on hand that you can stay home for a few days without having to worry.

Remember to check your supplies at least once or twice a year.  Discard expired items, and use up any that are nearing their expiration date.  Place newer items in the back and use the older items in the front. It’s best to rotate your bottled water supply every six months as well.
IF YOUR POWER GOES OUT...
If your power goes out, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature.  Each time the door is opened, a significant amount of refrigeration is lost. If your refrigerator is kept at 40 degrees or below, it will keep food safely cold for about four hours if it is unopened, according to the United States Department of Agriculture website. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours, or 24 hours if half full and the door remains closed.

Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40 degrees or below. If the power has been out for several days, then check the temperature of the freezer with an appliance thermometer or food thermometer. Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers and deli items after four hours without power.
PREPARING FOR HEALTH EMERGENCIES
Across the country, local, state and national government agencies have been working together for years to protect all our citizens from both manmade and natural disasters. Locally, the Fairfield County Health Department works with the Fairfield Emergency Management Association and other County agencies to be prepared for health emergency or disaster to ensure the safety of our residents.

To make sure that Fairfield County Health Department staff are prepared, they complete ongoing required emergency response training and participate in local and regional training exercises.
HOW YOU CAN BE PREPARED
Individuals and families should also be prepared for health emergencies. If you live alone, getting the flu or a bad cold and having to stay in bed for a few days could be a health emergency if you are not prepared.  Plan ahead, and make sure you have the necessary things including food and water easily available at home so that you could remain in bed and take care of yourself.

Being prepared also means you are aware of how diseases are spread. This way, you can take precautions to avoid spreading or getting germs. Maintain good health habits, and be sure to cover your sneeze with a tissue and dispose of it promptly. Wash your hands often. Cover your cough by coughing into your elbow or sleeve and not into your hands.

You can also help yourself and your family by preparing for a longer stay at home in the event of a natural disaster such as a tornado or flood or even a pandemic flu outbreak. There are many good resources available online to help you prepare and offer checklists for what to put in your disaster kit.

Ready.gov is an easy online way to find out more about being prepared. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has created this site to educate citizens about how to be prepared in case of a national emergency.

Ready.gov has this advice about making a preparedness kit. When preparing for a possible emergency situation, it's best to think first about the basics of survival: fresh water, food, clean air and warmth.