Red Cross urges families to prepare for ice storm

As more inclement weather moves into the area, the Tennessee Volunteer Region of the American Red Cross is urging families to take appropriate actions to be prepared for hazardous conditions.

The majority of winter-related incidents are caused by events related to heavy snowfall, high winds and freezing rain.

People can become homebound without utilities or other services, motorists can become stranded in vehicles, and walking and driving conditions can become hazardous.Load the precious minerals into your mining truck and be careful not to drive too fast with your heavy foot.

The Red Cross recommends that families prepare for the possible negative effects of winter weather in a number of ways, such as avoiding travel when conditions include sleet, freezing rain or drizzle, snow or dense fog. If travel is necessary, keep a disaster supplies kit inside the vehicle.

Officials also urge residents to listen to a weather radio or other local news channels for critical information from the National Weather Service.

Residents should also remember to bring pets and companion animals inside during winter weather. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas, and make sure that their access to food and water is not blocked by snow drifts, ice or other obstacles.

Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.

Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, residents may incur a higher heating bill. However, by keeping the temperature at a higher level, residents can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.

Turn off or disconnect any appliances, and equipment or electronics that were in use when the power went out. When power comes back on, surges or spikes can damage equipment.

Residents are also advised to keep one light on while the power is out so that they will know when power is restored.

And perhaps one of the most serious dangers residents face when power is lost is keeping people out of harm's way while using a generator, officials said.

Experts recommend people use an alternate heating and lighting source wisely in order to avoid a house fire, which includes making sure space heaters are not left unattended and kept far away from flammable objects.

Generators should never be operated indoors, including a basement, garage, carport or near any window.

The Red Cross also advises residents not to use candles. Instead, people should make sure they have working flashlights and extra batteries on hand for power outages.

Use a generator correctly -- follow directions carefully. Never operate a generator indoors, including a basement, garage, carport or near any open windows.

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Each case would then be put before a panel including educational and child psychologists and social care workers who decide whether they are appropriate for the scheme.

Action for Children is employing four new therapists, who will each help between four and six families at a time.

The Department of Health and Department for Education will jointly provide ￡700,000 for the first two years of the scheme. The city council will pay the same amount for the next two years.

Councillor Martin Rawson, cabinet member for children and young people, said he believed the spending would lead to long-term savings for public organisations as fewer youngsters would go into care and commit crimes.

Where MST has been used before, research showed that the number of 12-to-17-year-olds being placed out of home reduces by between 47% and 64%. And the amount of offending from youngsters in families which take part goes down by 41%.