Weather

Cold Temperatures Spark 'Code Blue' In Gloucester Twp: Keep Pets, Loved Ones Safe

Camden County officials have issued a "Code Blue" until Monday morning, Feb. 6., as temperatures will drop into the single digits.

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Michelle Rotuno-Johnson, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — A potentially dangerous cold front will sweep across New Jersey this week, and Camden County officials have issued a "Code Blue."

Local municipalities will activate warming shelters for those in need, and county health officials have offered tips to keep pets and loved ones safe — namely, to bring pets indoors and to check on elderly or disabled neighbors to make sure their heat works.

The Code Blue advisory begins at 7 p.m. Jan. 31 and ends at 7 a.m. Feb. 6. Temperatures from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. will drop as low as nine degrees, said county officials. Related article — NJ Weather: 'Dangerous' Cold May Bring Wind Chills 25 Below Zero

Find out what's happening in Gloucester Townshipfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

“If you know of anyone who is elderly or disabled, please check on them to make sure they’re prepared to stay safe in these dangerous temperatures,” Commissioner Virginia Betteridge said.

Check the latest Accuweather forecast for Gloucester Township here.

Find out what's happening in Gloucester Townshipfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The frigid blast will approach the region late Thursday night into early Friday morning, with temperatures dipping the lowest Friday night through Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Friday night may also feature gusts of 35-40 mph.

Friday will begin with early-morning highs in the 30s, which will fall throughout the day into the teens and then into single digits by evening, the National Weather Service predicts.

Overnight Friday into Saturday, wind chill values could dip to 25 degrees below zero in northwestern Jersey and as low as 15 degrees below zero across the rest of the state, according to the National Weather Service.

Persons seeking shelter in a warming center should contact their local municipality. Additional resources are available by calling the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services at (800) 999-9045, or by visiting www.camdencounty.com.

For those needing housing in Camden County, the after-hours Code Blue hotline is 2-1-1.

Also, any power outage should be reported directly to the appropriate utility provider.

Here are some tips from Commissioner Betteridge to keep pets safe:

  • When the thermometer dips below 32 degrees, keep your pet indoors as much as possible. If your pet must stay outside, provide a warm shelter, raised a few inches off the ground, with the opening facing away from the wind and covered with a burlap or plastic flap. The shelter should be large enough for the animal to stand and turn around, but small enough to retain its body heat.
  • If your pet is outdoors for extended periods when temperatures are below freezing (32 degrees), be alert for signs of distress from the cold. Just like in people, shivering is a sign that the body temperature is dropping. If you see your pet shivering, it is probably time to bring it inside. Remember, your pet’s body temperature is between 101-102 degrees and its body temperature lowers faster in cold weather.
  • A very young, very old pet or a pet with a health problem is more vulnerable to cold.
  • An animal with thick fur can tolerate cold longer than a small animal and one with short hair.
  • Don’t leave your pet in an unheated vehicle for extended periods of time.
  • Make sure your pet has clean unfrozen drinking water. Do not let your pet drink from puddles where there may be deadly antifreeze or other harmful chemicals.
  • A pet can pick up rock salt, ice and other melting chemicals in their foot pads. This can harm your pet. Massaging petroleum jelly into paw pads before going outside helps to protect from salt and chemical agents. Moisturizing after a good toweling off helps to heal chapped paws. Wipe your pet’s feet with a damp cloth when it comes inside to protect its pads from damage. If this is a problem for your pet, there are boots available in all sizes. Your dog can get used to wearing the boots indoors for short periods of time. Not all dogs take to them.
  • If there are outside cats in the neighborhood, knock on the hood of your vehicle and look under it before starting your engine and driving off. Cats sometimes curl up next to or under warm engines when they are left out in the cold.
  • Antifreeze has an attractive scent and taste for animals and is extremely poisonous! Be especially vigilant about the ingestion of antifreeze. The first sign of antifreeze poisoning is a pet that appears drunk. Immediately get your pet to the vet if you suspect it has ingested antifreeze as it can be fatal within four
    to eight hours of ingestion.

    • Patch's Josh Bakan contributed to this report.

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