safety tips Archives | Citizens Utility Board

CUB consumer alert: Tips to battle bitter cold at home

Jim Chilsen — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 19:12:12 +0000

The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) on Friday released tips for Illinoisans to keep their homes safe and warm, with temperatures expected to plunge following a winter storm. “With dangerously low temperatures approaching, everyone’s top priority over the next few days should be to stay safe,” CUB Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz said in a news release. “Please make sure you’re staying safe and warm, and your loved ones are too.” CUB has tips and helpful information at CUBHelpCenter.com. Here are some quick tips: Don’t take risks. Don’t use your oven or stove to heat your home. If you use a space heater, place it on a hard, level surface; don’t use an extension cord; keep it at least three feet away from flammable objects, such as the couch, blankets or curtains; and don’t leave it on overnight. During this cold, keep your home at a safe temperature (about 68-70 degrees or more). Remember, setting the thermostat too low is dangerous to your health and can freeze pipes. Make sure carbon monoxide alarms and smoke detectors are in working order. Don’t overwork your heating system. Close blinds/curtains or cover your windows with blankets as an extra layer of protection against icy night winds. But let the sunlight in during the day to help heat your home. Clear radiators, registers, air returns and baseboards of obstructions. Dust, carpet and furniture can block the heat and leave a room chilly. You can’t heat your home if the air isn’t circulating. Reduce the drafts. This bitter cold is an opportunity to pinpoint the drafts in your home. Your hardware store can provide the materials to seal those leaks. If you don’t have a door guard or sweep to block cold air under your front and back doors and you can’t get to the hardware store, use a rolled up towel, a rug or newspaper to block the drafts. Clean or replace filters for a forced-air heating system. A dirty or non-functioning filter does nothing but drain money from your wallet. Check it every month—and now is a great time to clean or replace it if it’s dirty. Beware of bad deals. If your gas or electric bill is skyrocketing, check to see if you’re paying for a bad deal with an alternative supplier. Read your utility bill to see if another company is listed on the supply section. Inquire about assistance this month. Homes that can’t afford their heating bills should contact the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to see if they qualify for assistance: 1-877-411-9276. Be a good member of the community. Confirm that neighbors, friends and family are OK. KeepWarm.Illinois.gov has information on where Illinoisans can find warming centers.

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Beat the Heat with Summer Safety Tips

Elizabeth — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 21:13:24 +0000

The best energy efficiency is energy efficiency practiced safely. Temperature Safety: Don’t keep your home too hot or too cold to save money– never set the thermostat at a temperature that threatens your health. Efficiency is all about safety and comfort. Set your thermostat from 76 to 78 degrees for a safe and efficient temperature. Turn the AC off when you leave home unless you have pets or people in your care who need to stay cool. If you don’t have a cool place to stay, visit a cooling center or public space for a break. Special centers are available in state facilities across Illinois to help consumers stay safe in the summer or winter. Find warming and cooling centers near you. Many of those are open during business hours and Tollway Oasis locations are open 24 hours a day. Also, don’t be afraid to ask a family member or friend if you need refuge from the heat or cold. Stay Cool Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Sip about four to eight glasses of fluids a day. Avoid too much alcohol or caffeine, which promotes dehydration. Add a fan to your summer defenses. Set your thermostat at a smart temperature, and then use a fan to help circulate the cool air. Run it counter-clockwise, from your position looking up at it. Remember fans cool people not rooms, so turn them off when no one’s around. Need a bit more help to stay cool? Use a spray bottle filled with cool water to apply a refreshing mist on your face. Soak your feet in cool water. Place ice cubes, wrapped in a wet fabric, on your “pulse points,” where the blood vessels are close to the skin: wrists, neck, the insides of your elbows, the tops of your feet and the inside of the ankles. Take a cold shower or bath as well. Close your curtains or blinds to keep the heat of the sun out. Try to keep the rooms you use most (i.e. the TV room) the coolest. Symptoms of Heat Stroke: Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temps and not enough hydration. Heatstroke is more serious and occurs when the body starts to lose its ability to regulate itself. The signs of a heat stroke are: An extremely high body temperature, such as 103 degrees or above Dizziness and nausea Throbbing headache Rapid and strong pulse If you notice these symptoms in another person, the Mayo Clinic says to call 911 or your local emergency number and then move the person out of the heat and try to cool them immediately (sponge the person with cool water; fan the person and spray them with a cool mist; cold shower, etc.). Outlet Safety: If an appliance frequently trips your electric circuit breaker, disconnect it immediately and have the outlet evaluated by a qualified electrician. Older wiring in buildings may not be able to handle the electrical demand of modern appliances and may cause electrical fires if not maintained. Extension Cords: Keep portable appliances on extension […]

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Protecting yourself from a data breach

Jennifer — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 20:46:12 +0000

Online data breaches have been in the news a lot this year, so what can you do firsthand to avoid being a victim of identity theft? When a data breach strikes When news breaks of a data breach within a company that holds your information, it’s not always clear what that means for you. Reports focus on the number of affected people or accounts. A data breach allows criminals to get your information–using it for their own motives or selling it so other scammers can pretend to be you. Consumer protections Most credit card companies and banks offer customers some sort of monitoring services to prevent fraud or theft. When you get word of a data breach and worry you may have been compromised, explore what options are already provided to you by being a customer. Do your own monitoring Besides the consumer protection services available to you, it’s smart to always be your own fraud monitor. There are simple ways to keep an eye on your information. They’re just a click away. Set account alerts. Alerts can be sent straight to your phone when your account hits a certain limit, charged in an unusual area (like out of state) or used frequently in a short period of time. Check credit reports and statements. Carefully read your credit reports and bank statements for any odd listings. Maybe there’s a card or two you haven’t used for some time, or mail you’ve skipped opening. Edit social media. Scammers can take info you share to guess passwords, get an idea of places you frequently shop, etc. Be weary of how your social media posting may be tied to your various accounts. Eve Velasquez, president of the Identity Theft Resource Center says the internet has become “an Amazon for fraudsters.” Remember, data breaches aren’t limited to your bank accounts and credit cards. Scammers can use your medical information to get treatment, or hack into government records and take advantage of your Social Security or veteran benefits. With the holiday shopping season here, you may be doing a lot of credit card swiping the next few weeks. For more information on how data breaches affect you personally, read this CNET article.

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Safety during a winter power outage

Jennifer — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 16:40:01 +0000

Power outages don’t just happen during storms on balmy summer days. Winter power outages can be more difficult due to the harsh cold. Here are some tips for staying safe if you find yourself caught in one. Getting prepared When a winter storm hits, you may not be able to get on the roads to get any supplies or food. If you know bad weather is approaching, stock up on warm clothing, blankets, and nonperishable food items. Get a portable cellphone charger and batteries for any devices, like a radio and flashlights, that can come in handy while the power is out. Now is a good time to fix any window cracks or openings before snow really arrives (check out CUB’s guide to Cheaper Alternatives to Buying New Windows). Staying warm An obvious concern in winter power outages is heat. Since natural gas furnaces depend on electricity to work, most homeowners will be without heat in an outage. Temperatures drop quickly, and this can be dangerous if you’re not careful, or the outage lasts longer than expected. Make sure to completely close doors and windows, and block drafts. (You can buy materials to stop drafts under doors, like a door sweep, or improvise if you have to, with a rolled up towel.) Dress in layers, but at the same time keep clothes somewhat loose. If you or someone you know starts to show signs of frostbite or hypothermia, seek help right away. Note: If you find yourself in dire conditions, you can always take advantage of your local warming centers. Electrical precautions When the power outage strikes, check your home’s electric panel and make sure a circuit didn’t blow. Unplug anything that uses an electric motor. You should keep a light switch “on” just to have as a signal for when power is restored. If you find yourself having to go outdoors or even drive, be sure to watch for downed power lines, especially those that may be covered in snow. Avoid pipes bursting Don’t waste water, but run your faucets at least at a trickle periodically throughout the day to keep water from freezing in your pipes. On an above-freezing day before winter is officially here, take some time to drain your outdoor faucets. You can’t stop extreme winter weather, but being prepared can save you a lot of trouble. Keep in contact with your utilities not just to notify them of the outage, but also after the outage, in case there was damage done to your power lines, pipes, etc. Sources: https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/how-to-survive-a-power-outage-in-winter/70000039 https://weather.com/safety/winter/news/2018-01-24-winter-power-outage-guide https://www.central.coop/content/staying-safe-and-warm-during-winter-power-outage

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