Safety tips to prepare for cold weather

Originally posted on Oct. 11. Updated November 4, 2024

Now that the weather is cooler, make sure you take precautions to keep yourself and your family safe. Here are some tips for staying warm and avoiding carbon monoxide poisoning:

• Only use a portable heater designed for indoor use. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using a portable heater.

• Never heat your house with oven burners or grills.

• Never burn charcoal indoors.

• Never use a portable gas camp stove indoors.

• Never use a generator inside your home or garage, even if doors and windows are open. Only use generators outside, more than 20 feet away from your home, doors, and windows.

• Install carbon monoxide detectors near every sleeping area in your home.

• Check the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector every 6 months, just like with smoke detectors.

• If your heat goes out, keep warm indoors by closing off rooms, dressing in layers, and wearing a cap.

Cold weather safety and carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is produced when fuel is burned in vehicles, gas- and oil-burning furnaces, gas stoves and grills, portable generators, charcoal grills, and fireplaces.

Breathing in large amounts of carbon monoxide can cause unconsciousness or death. People who are sleeping can die from carbon monoxide poisoning without experiencing any symptoms. While everyone is at risk, certain groups are more vulnerable, including infants, the elderly, and people with chronic heart and lung problems or anemia.

The most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are:

• Headache

• Dizziness

• Weakness

• Upset stomach

• Vomiting

• Chest pain

• Confusion

Should you experience one or more of these symptoms, seek fresh air immediately and contact 911 if you need medical assistance.

Cold weather resources

The BMT Volunteer Corp is asking that all residents of Black Mountain, Swannanoa Valley and our other local areas to complete a Helene household needs assessment. This will allow the BMT Volunteer Corp to better understand who has immediate cold weather and safety needs, which will help the Corp distribute supplies accordingly. Items that will be available for distribution through their efforts include blankets, coats, boots, generators with an initial supply of fuel, shovels, small refrigerators, and more. Click here to learn more and take the survey.

Additional information about obtaining donated clothing and other supplies can be found on the Emergency Assistance page.

Utility payment assistance

Are you having trouble paying your utility bills?

To receive financial assistance through the Duke Energy: Share the Light Fund, you must be a Duke Energy Progress residential customer and have a past due balance, unpaid deposit for utility service, or unpaid reconnection charge. Call 800-662-7020 to get help or to donate to the Fund. Learn more at duke-energy.com/home/billing/special-assistance/share-the-light.

Dominion Energy also offers energy assistance. Call 877-776-2427 for more information.