PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — If you’ve been wondering where winter was, here it is.
A snow squall is moving through part of the region, and the coldest air in more than a month is on the way.
This kind of extreme cold, plus the highest energy costs we’ve seen in more than a decade, can prompt people to pursue some dangerous methods to keep warm, and the cold can also put your pets at risk.
Heating with the stove, kerosene heaters, fireplaces — all can be extremely dangerous, said Timothy Boyce, director of emergency services for Delaware County. These alternative methods increase the possibility of fires or carbon monoxide poisoning.
“Carbon monoxide is a silent killer,” Boyce explained. “Check your smoke detectors and your carbon monoxide detectors, and if you don’t have one, contact your local authorities. Most often, they can provide one at little or no cost.”
Many communities have also set up temporary warming stations where people can get out of the extreme cold in the daylight hours. Boyce said to check local municipalities for times.
The Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) helpline has received many questions recently about high heating bills and payment assistance. Helpline associates recommend resources like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Weatherization Assistance Program for home energy efficiency.
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“We always do try to impart on people that heating your home can be dangerous if it is done incorrectly,” added Nolan Lawrence, senior helpline director.
As such, Lawrence said people should make an effort to check on their neighbors, especially the elderly, during the extreme cold.
ER vet gives pet safety tips for frigid temps
“If it’s too cold for you. it’s going to be too cold for your pet,” said University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine professor Dr. Erica Reineke.
“If you do need to walk your pet outside, your dog outside, you may want to keep walks short.”
She said signs of knowing when your pet is cold are similar to what happens with people.
“You may notice that they are shivering or trembling,” said Dr. Reineke. “They may be quieter than usual, or lethargic. Their fur may be cold to the touch.”
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She said thick-haired dogs are better with cold weather, but for short-haired dogs, you may want to invest in a coat or sweater. She says paw covers or booties are a good idea.
“That can kind of protect their feet from against the cold, and protects their feet from the salt that can be put on the ground to prevent it from icing,” said Dr. Reineke. “They can develop sores and abrasions from that salt, especially if it is not the pet-safe salt that we recommend you using around your own home.”
She says during the winter months, vets see a lot of injured paws.
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“We definitely see our fair amount of paw injuries from walking on the ice, or lacerations, sometimes from ice, or from the salt on the ground,” said Dr. Reineke.
She also warned to look out for antifreeze, as it could cause kidney failure in both cats and dogs.
“It has a sweet smell and a sweet taste that can be particularly attractive to pets for them to want to drink it,” she said. “That is a big problem. It can be fatal to our pets.”
If you're around partially-frozen ponds or lakes, Dr. Reineke said it’s best to keep dogs leashed, to prevent them from falling through the ice.