5 Safety Tips For Dealing With The Power Outage

Still waiting for power to come back on? Here are five safety tips to keep in mind from the Lake County Health Department:

1. A freezer that is half-full will hold food safely for up to 24 hours. A full freezer will hold food safely for 48 hours. However, two days have passed since Monday’s storm. This means that any food you still have in your refrigerator or freezer (that has been without power) most likely should be thrown out.

The rule is that frozen foods need to be below zero in temperature and refrigerated foods need to be below 40 degrees. It is not worth it to take a chance and eat something that can make you sick. Don’t try to determine whether food is edible by its smell. The things in food that can make you sick you can’t smell.

2. If you lack air conditioning, it is important to avoid heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Open windows, drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol and caffeine. Visit public places such as malls, libraries, etc. during the hottest time of the day, or stay in your basement. Also, check on elderly neighbors.

3. Don’t expend energy cleaning up the branches in your yard during the middle of the day.

4. Use flashlights or other battery-powered lights if possible instead of candles. If you must use them, place candles in safe holders away from anything that could catch fire. Never leave a burning candle unattended.

5. Never use generators, grills, or other gasoline-, propane-, or charcoal-burning devices inside your home, garage, carport or near doors, windows or vents, because they produce the odorless but deadly carbon monoxide gas.

Electricity has been restored to all Lake County Health Department facilities except Mid-Lakes Community Health Center in Round Lake Beach and Avon Township Outpatient Services in Round Lake Park. Periodic updates are available at: 847-377-8000.