A Weekly Note from Mayor Gary L. Graham
“Traditional Values, Progressive Thinking”
The snow storm we experienced late last week is one of the many reminders that winter is still with us. While winter weather inconveniences almost everyone to some degree, the segment of our population that is most vulnerable to the harshness of winter is our senior citizens.
To help seniors take steps that will keep them safe, healthy and warm during the winter months, the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) has developed a program called Keep Warm Illinois.
According to Charles Johnson, IDoA Director, “Older persons are at a higher risk of falling ill during the cold winter months. We want to make sure that seniors know how to keep themselves safe and healthy this winter season. The state has a number of resources available that seniors can use so they aren’t left to make difficult decisions about paying their heating bills or taking their prescription drugs this winter. I hope that older persons, their families and those who care for them will take these practical, simple steps to prepare for the cold weather.”
People who lower the thermostat to reduce heating bills risk developing hypothermia, a potentially fatal condition in which the body temperature drops dangerously low. At increased risk are older people who take certain medications, drink alcohol, lack proper nutrition and who have conditions such as arthritis, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Thermostats should always be set above 65 degrees.
Safety Tips:
Dress in layers and cover as much skin as possible while outdoors. A hat is important since so much body heat escapes from an uncovered head.
Keep active. Make a list of exercises and activities that you can do indoors.
Eat nutritious meals and drink ten glasses of water every day.
Keep extra medications in the house. If this is not possible, make arrangements with a pharmacy that will deliver.
If your power supply goes out for an extended period of time and you have special medical needs such as oxygen, home dialysis, etc., contact O’Fallon’s EMS Department at 624-4545.
Stock up on extra non-perishable food supplies.
Have your house winterized. Be sure that walls and attics are insulated. Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows. Insulate pipes near outer walls, in crawl spaces and attics that are susceptible to freezing. Have your furnace checked to ensure that it is in good working condition and heating ducts are properly ventilated.
Make sure you and your family know how to shut off the water supply in case pipes burst.
Prepare your vehicle for winter. Check wipers, tires, lights and fluid levels regularly. Keep a windshield scraper and small broom for ice and snow removal. Maintain at least a half tank of gas during the winter season. Plan long trips carefully and travel by daylight with at least one other person.
Protect against fire. If you don’t have a fire extinguisher, purchase one. Make sure space heaters are at least three feet from anything flammable. Do not overload extension cords.
If you live in a house, plan now for someone else to shovel the snow when it arrives. Do not shovel snow or walk in deep snow. The strain from the cold and hard labor could cause a heart attack and sweating can lead to a chill and even hypothermia.
For more information on keeping warm this winter, please visit www.keepwarm.illinois.gov or call 1.877.411.WARM. Older adults and their caregivers may also contact the Department on Aging Senior HelpLine at 1.800.252.8966 to learn more about the programs and services available in the O’Fallon area.
The safety of our residents is very important to me and by working together we can make sure that our loves ones remain safe and sound this winter. The strong working relationship between City Hall and the residents we serve is yet another example of why O’Fallon is such a great community in which to live.
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