ORLANDO, Fla. – With freeze warnings issued in Central Florida and wintry weather affecting a large portion of the Sunshine State, the Florida Department of Health is urging residents to take precautions to stay safe.
"Although they don't occur often, winter storms can present challenging health issues and safety concerns in Florida,” said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. Celeste Philip. "It's important to take actions ahead of time to guard against cold weather hazards and stay safe during cold snaps."
Health officials offered the following winter safety tips:
- Stay indoors as much as possible to keep healthy, safe and warm. Make sure to check on friends, family members and neighbors who are especially at risk from cold weather hazards: young children, older adults and the chronically ill.
- For outside activities, dress in multiple layers of loose-fitting clothing. Don't forget to wear a hat, scarf and mittens, or other winter gear.
- Heat your home safely. If you plan to use a wood stove, fireplace or space heater, be extremely careful. Make sure each appliance is properly adjusted and you have followed the manufacturer's instructions and local building codes for use.
- Prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning by never using generators, charcoal grills or gas grills indoors and by installing a CO detector to alert you of the presence of the deadly, odorless, colorless gas. Watch this #FLHealthMinute video to learn more on how to prevent CO poisoning.
- As temperatures dip below freezing, leave your home's water taps slightly open so they drip continuously.
- Eat well-balanced meals to stay warmer. Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages—they cause your body to lose heat more rapidly. Instead, drink warm beverages such as hot chocolate or hot tea to help maintain your body temperature. If you have any dietary restrictions, consult your doctor.
- Bring pets out of the cold weather and provide them warm shelter.
- Cold weather can displace wild animals. Stay clear of wild or feral animals including cats, bats or raccoons especially if they look sick or appear injured. They could have rabies and hurt animals can also injure you. Watch this video on rabies prevention to learn more.
Freezing temps in the Orlando area are expected into early Saturday.