Derby Police Department posts safety tips during extreme heat

EXTREME HEAT WARNING

The next three days are expected to bring dangerously high temperatures and humidity. Please take precautions to protect yourself, your family, your neighbors, and your pets.

Heat Safety Tips:

Drink plenty of water, even if you don't feel thirsty.

Stay in air-conditioned buildings whenever possible.

Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.

Limit outdoor activities, especially during the hottest part of the day.

Check on elderly family members, neighbors, and those with medical conditions.

Never leave children or pets unattended in a vehicle—temperatures inside can become deadly within minutes.

Make sure pets have plenty of fresh water, shade, and avoid walking them on hot pavement.

If you begin experiencing symptoms of heat-related illness such as dizziness, confusion, nausea, or excessive weakness, move to a cool place immediately and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen.

The Derby Police Department encourages everyone to look out for one another during this period of extreme heat. A simple phone call or visit to check on a vulnerable neighbor can make all the difference.

Stay safe, stay cool, and remember—if you have an emergency, call 911 and for routine calls dial 203-735-7811.

Shared from the Derby PD Facebook page.

Ansonia Rescue and Medical Services hosts cooling center today through Friday

ANSONIA - With the extreme heat, Mayor Cassetti announced the Cooling Center will open at ARMS, in the lobby, from Wednesday until Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

ARMS is located at 22 W. Main St.

Staying Cool:
Seek air-conditioned spaces: Spend time in public places like libraries, malls, or cooling centers during the hottest parts of the day.

Use fans and take cool showers or baths: Fans can provide comfort, but cool showers or baths are more effective at lowering body temperature.

Close curtains and blinds: This can help reduce heat buildup in your home.

Use window reflectors: Aluminum foil-covered cardboard can help reflect heat away from your home.

Staying Hydrated:
Drink plenty of water: Carry a water bottle and sip on it throughout the day, even if you don't feel thirsty.

Avoid sugary drinks, alcohol, and caffeine: These can dehydrate you.

Replace electrolytes: If you're sweating heavily, consider drinks or foods that replace electrolytes.

Shared from the City of Ansonia Facebook page.

Klarides-Ditria cautions pet owners about hot asphalt

 

With hot temperatures forecast for the week, the governor announced he is activating Connecticut’s Extreme Hot Weather Protocol on Tuesday, June 18 through 12 p.m. Sunday, June 23. He reminded residents that cooling centers are being opened statewide and you can locate the nearest cooling center by calling 2-1-1 or viewing the list at 211ct.org. It’s important to be prepared for hot temperatures, and that includes making sure your pets are safe, too.  The American Red Cross has the following tips on keeping pets safe, but essentially treat your pets the same as you treat yourself: Never leave your pet in a hot vehicle, even for a few minutes. The inside temperature of the car can quickly reach 120 degrees even with the windows cracked open. Limit exercise on hot days. Exercise in the early morning or evening hours. Walk your pet in the grass if possible, to avoid hot surfaces burning their paws. If your pet is outside, make sure they have access to shade and plenty of cool water. Water safety is important for your furry friends. Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool—they aren’t all good swimmers Watch your pets at a backyard barbecue. Keep them away from the grill and know that some food can be poisonous to them. Avoid raisins, grapes, onions, chocolate and products with artificial sweeteners. Heat stroke is a common problem for pets in the warmer weather. Dogs with short noses or snouts, like the boxer or bulldog, are especially prone to heat stroke, along with overweight pets, those with extremely thick fur coat or any pet with upper respiratory problems. Open windows or doors are a temptation for pets to try to get outside. Keep all doors and unscreened windows closed, and make sure screens are tightly secured Some plants in your garden can be hazardous to animals. Visit the Animal Poison Control Center to find out which plants and flowers are poisonous to animals.

Sincerely,

Cool to learn how our ancestors kept cool, thanks to Shelton History Center

Shared from the Shelton History Center Facebook page:

"Prior to the invention of air conditioning, people would close the shutters on their homes to keep their houses cool on hot summer days.

"This photo from our collection shows the shutters closed at [the] Brownson House on a hot July day in 1906 to keep the heat out. 

"Setting not looking familiar? This photo is from when the house was on Shelton Avenue!"

Recuperation journey: A special day

I took this photo of the Connecticut River Thursday before my daughter's wedding reception!  

Ansonia Animal Control Officer reminds pet owners of important safety tips

Ansonia Animal Control Officer Jeanie Roslonowski shared with the City of Ansonia Facebook page.

Klarides-Ditria provides information on Operation Fuel heating assistance

Dear Neighbors,

The days are already getting shorter and colder, and I am sure given our current situation there are folks out there who are concerned about heating their homes this fall and winter. I wanted to let you know that Operation Fuel, the oldest fuel bank in the country, can provide assistance to those in need.

Operation Fuel provides year-round emergency assistance to help families avoid heat, electricity, and water shutoffs. 

They also provide help:

To reach to as many families as possible affected by COVID-19, Operation Fuel increased their grant awards and modified their eligibility guidelines.

• Home System Repair & Replacement to help lower-income homeowners reduce energy bills by repairing or replacing older furnaces, boilers, and water heaters;
• Homelessness Intervention & Prevention helps to prevent and eliminate homelessness that results from unaffordable home energy costsIf you or anyone you know is struggling to pay their heating, electricity, or water bill, or need help with deliverable fuel, please reach out.

They have launched an online portal so clients can apply directly for assistance. 

Learn more and apply today here. If you have any questions, you can contact opfuelapplications@operationfuel.org or call (860) 243-2345.

Please share this information with anyone in need, and feel free to reach out to me with any other concerns.


Sincerely,

Heat forecast for Saturday closes Derby Public Library

From the Derby Public Library Facebook page:

"Due to the excessive heat forecast for Saturday, July 20, the Library will be closed. We will open Monday, July 22, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. We apologize for any inconvenience."

Naugatuck Valley Health District offers information on heat-related illnesses

From the City of Ansonia Facebook page:

"With the continuing heat and high humidity, please take a moment to review the attached chart for heat related illnesses. From the Naugatuck Valley Health District website. http://nvhd.org/"

Recuperation journey: My limit was 10 minutes out there

   Steamy Tuesday at Colony Pond in Ansonia.

Be alert for signs of heat exhaustion; make sure to hydrate

*Shared from the Derby Fire Department Facebook page.

Remember your mail carrier in the hot, humid weather

Sharing a post from the Naugatuck Post Office:

"There is NO AIR CONDITIONING inside a mail man’s truck and on most days it’s 15 degrees HOTTER in the mail truck than it is outside! Heat stroke is a real serious medical condition! A frozen water bottle left inside your mail box will mean more to them than you will know!!" 

Feel free to share

Sharing summer safety tips to deal with heat

Shelton fire official outlines winter hazards

Make sure to keep portable heaters at least three feet away.

SHELTON – Freezing winter temperatures have prompted the Shelton Fire Prevention Bureau to remind everyone to hold fire safety in high regard. 
Ted Pisciotta, Assistant Chief – Fire Prevention, Shelton Fire Prevention Bureau, says fires tend to increase during winter months when hazards associated with cold weather increase.
Typical hazards include the use of alternative heating methods, attempts to thaw frozen pipe, and the general increased activity indoors. 

In the U.S., heating is the second leading cause of all residential building fires following cooking. January is the peak month for such fires. Pisciotta encourages everyone to consider fire safety to help protect persons, homes, and businesses from the potential threat of fire.

Adequate heat should be maintained in all areas with use of well arranged and maintained heating equipment. Here are some helpful tips to prevent and unwanted fire in your home or business:

General Heating:

· A furnace should be inspected and serviced by a qualified professional at least once a year.

· Use temporary/portable space heaters that have been evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

· If temporary/portable space heaters are used, keep anything that can burn; such as bedding, paper, furniture, etc. at least three feet away.

· Ensure the portable space heater has a thermostat control mechanism, and will switch off automatically if the heater falls over.

· Electric portable space heaters should be plugged directly into a proper wall outlet. Do not use an extension cord.

· Turn off portable heaters when you leave a room or go to bed. (Use reminders such as notes, timer, etc. to ensure you to turn off heaters when you leave a room or go to bed.)

Wood burning stove or fireplace:

Use closed metal container for ashes

· Only burn properly dry and seasoned wood in a fireplace or wood stove. Never burn trash, paper, or green wood.

· A chimney for a wood burning stove or fireplace should be inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney specialist at least once a year. The leading cause of chimney fires is from built up creosote.

· Ensure any fireplace is provided with a metal screen or heat-tempered glass, in good condition and secured in position in front of the fireplace.

· Dispose of cooled ashes in a closed metal container, which is then kept outside your home at least 10 ft. away from the house, wood deck, and any nearby buildings.

If heat is lost:

· Safely prevent pipes from freezing by running water, using alternative heating in a safer manner, and promptly making repairs to the primary heating system.

· If pipes do freeze, special care should be taken in thawing them. Open flames should never be used to thaw pipe.

Clothes dryers:

· With increased use of clothes dryers, be sure proper ventilation and lack of lint build-up in the ventilation system. Never leave a dryer running unattended

Finally, as in every season, have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home, test them monthly and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times. 
Know when and how to call “911” for help. And remember to practice your home escape plan.

For more information, the public is encouraged to contact the Shelton Fire Prevention Bureau at 203-924-1555 or on the web under “Public Safety” at www.cityofshelton.org.


This is a press release from Ted Pisciotta, Assistant Chief, Fire Prevention in Shelton.