From Portage County Health & Human Services

With dangerously low temperatures in the forecast for the next 7-10 days, Portage County Health and Human Services is reminding residents to take steps to be safe and stay warm.

To protect yourself and your family during extreme cold, follow these safety tips:

Stay inside

When possible, stay indoors.

Stock a home emergency kit

Your home kit should include items such as food and water, cell phone and charger, flashlight and batteries, first aid kit, important medications, a weather radio, and a change of clothes. If you are able to, set aside items like soap, hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol, disinfecting wipes, and general household cleaning supplies to disinfect surfaces you touch regularly. Visit readywisconsin.wi.gov/make-a-kit for more items and tips.

Limit your time outside

If you must venture out, then wear layers of warm clothing and watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia. Be sure to have several clean masks to use in case your mask becomes wet or damp from snow. Cloth masks should not be worm when they become damp or wet.

Reduce the risk of heart attack by avoiding overexertion when shoveling snow

Masks may make it difficult to breathe, especially for those who engage in high intensity activities, like shoveling. If you are unable to wear a mask, maintain a distance of at least six feet between yourself and those who are not part of your household.

Winterize your car

Just as you have a home emergency kit, you need one for your car too. Pack items such as blankets, snacks and water, a shovel, jumper cables, and sand. Keep your gas tank at least half-full, and pack additional clean face coverings.

Safely check on your friends, family, and neighbors

If it is safe to do so, check on neighbors while following the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on maintaining social and physical distancing. Consider connecting with family and friends by telephone, e-mail, text messages, video chat, and social media. If you must visit in person, wear a mask and maintain a distance of at least six feet from them.

Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning

Only use generators and grills outdoors and away from windows. Never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven. Use a battery-powered detector where you have fuel burning devices but no electric outlets, such as in tents, cabins, and RVs.

Limit outdoor time for pets

Extreme cold is dangerous for animals too.