Living on Long Island or in the Rockaways, you know all too well that winter will always  present several challenges. From removing snow and ice to dressing appropriately and avoiding falls, winter safety should always be top of mind. Stay safe and warm this season with the following tips.

To stay warm:

• Cover every part of your body — including your face — and wear layers of loose-fitting clothing to protect against frostbite and hypothermia. In cold weather, your body actually loses heat faster than it can produce it.
• Stay inside when temperatures are dangerously cold. And remember that certain people are at higher risk than others, especially the elderly.
• Seek immediate medical attention for any person whose body temperature falls below 95°F.

To get around safely:

• Wear sensible footwear when streets and sidewalks are snow-covered and icy. Flat-soled shoes with treads — not smooth soles — make it easier to plant your entire foot securely on the surface, which improves balance. Water-resistant boots designed to protect your feet from the cold are also a good choice.
• Walk slowly and take shorter steps in icy, snowy conditions. This allows for adequate reaction time if you suddenly encounter a slippery patch of pavement.
• Wear bright clothing so others can see you in wintry conditions. Something as simple as a colorful scarf or hat can make a big difference.
• Be aware of your surroundings. When walking, always look ahead to anticipate any change in conditions, such as a patch of ice or uneven pavement. Avoid using headphones that block out the sound of oncoming vehicles — especially snow plows.

To remove ice and snow:

• Take time to stretch before you start to shovel snow. This helps prevent injury, especially because you’ll be using muscles that may have been inactive for a while.
• Clear the snow a little bit at a time. It may seem sensible to wait until the snow is done falling to clear it away, but that actually makes it more difficult. Instead, try to stay ahead of the snowfall by shoveling every couple inches.
• Avoid heavy lifting. A better approach is to push the snow off to the side because it requires less exertion, and that means less stress on your body.
• Take water breaks. Just as you would during any physical activity, it helps you stay adequately hydrated. Periodic rests are a must, especially if you’re not accustomed to this type of intense activity.
• Use a shovel with a long arm and a blade that’s somewhat flat. It will be easier on your back. Lifting heavy snow is never a good idea, but if you must, bend at the knees and let your legs do the work.

This winter, avoid accidents and stay warm by heeding these tips for staying safe in icy, snowy conditions.

The storm outside is bad, the wind is howling and suddenly your power goes out. Thankfully, you have a gasoline-powered generator. However, will you use it safely?

Surprisingly, most carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning deaths and illnesses occur during the winter, the majority due to improper use of gas generators. These generators can cause CO— an odorless, colorless gas — to build up in your home, poisoning those inside. Don’t become a statistic.

Using a gasoline-powered generator safely can be as easy as 1-2-3:

1. NEVER use a generator INSIDE your home or garage, even if doors and windows are open.
2. USE generators and any gas-powered equipment OUTSIDE, at least 20 feet away from doors, windows and vents.
3. INSTALL a battery-operated CO DETECTOR in central locations on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas to provide early warning of accumulating carbon monoxide. Be sure to change the batteries in the spring and fall. (Helpful hint: Change them when you move your clocks ahead and back.)

Safety Tips

• For a full list of generator safety tips, click here.
• For additional CO safety tips, click here.

What are the signs of CO poisoning?
Even by following these guidelines, incidents can occur. That’s why it’s important to know the signs of CO poisoning:

• Headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion.
• If you suspect CO poisoning, get to fresh air right away and immediately call 9-1-1. Do not reenter the area until it is deemed safe by emergency responders.

So the next time you pull out a gasoline-powered generator, keep these tips in mind. It could save a life.

The cold weather is here, and with it comes snow storms and other extreme weather. PSEG Long Island prepares year-round to keep your power on, even when challenged by storms, yet there are two important things you can do. First, prepare before a storm hits (read our storm safety tips) and secondly, know what to expect from PSEG Long Island if you do lose power.

If You Lose Power

If you lose power, report the outage – every time. Don’t assume we know your power is out even if you see a crew working in your area. The sooner you report the outage, the sooner we can schedule it for repair. You can find estimated restoration times for your area by using the MyPower map.

When you lose power, even if you realize we’re working as safely and quickly as possible to restore it, you may grow impatient or frustrated by the wait. It’s helpful to understand our power restoration process and why some take longer than others.

Safety first

Safety is one of our highest priorities. As such we cannot permit PSEG Long Island lineworkers to use bucket trucks, which assist in reaching overhead wires, when there are high winds. Sometimes our crews cannot get to our equipment due to other factors – some of which are obvious, such as a tree blocking a road, while others may not be – such as a downed wire that remains energized. Working during storms is dangerous, and our crews rely upon safety protocols and procedures and regular training to ensure their own safety and the safety of others.

Please don’t get upset if you see an employee or crew “standing around” as they are likely awaiting safety clearance.

During a widespread outage, it makes sense first to restore high-priority facilities that serve many others including: hospitals, police and fire stations, power plants, substations and water and sewage treatment facilities. Next, our crews are sent to the locations that can get the most customers back on in the shortest period of time.

Backyard restoration

Speedy restoration also depends on where our utility poles are placed. In most cases they run along the street so our bucket trucks can easily reach them. In some cases the power lines and utility poles are in your backyard. When poles are in backyards, the restoration process is labor-intensive. Our crews have to climb the poles and if we have to replace a pole we have to order special equipment. While restorations may take longer, just know that we are working hard until your power is back up and running.

Nested outages

Have you ever received notice from us that your power has been restored when your power was still out? That’s because our crews restored the whole neighborhood, but your house is experiencing what we call a ‘nested outage.’ A nested outage is a more localized issue, which means there is likely equipment failure right at your house — whether it be a blown fuse or a tree hanging on your home’s direct power line. We are not aware of all nested outages, so it is important that you respond to us saying that your power is still out.

Mutual aid assistance

Our goal is to restore service as safely and quickly as possible, which is why we participate in a network of mutual aid. Mutual aid allows us to request skilled help from other New Jersey providers and from utilities all over North America. While crews dealing with similar circumstances, such as the effects of a major storm, may not be available, we call for mutual aid when we know the damage may take days to restore – to give other crews time to travel to us.

A note about the pandemic

The safety of PSEG Long Island’s customers and employees is our top priority. We ask that customers remain in their homes while crews are working nearby. If customers must speak with our crews, we ask that they practice responsible “physical distancing” and remain at least 6 feet away to ensure the health of everyone involved. For more information about how PSEG Long Island continues to live up to its commitments during the pandemic, please visit: https://www.psegliny.com/safetyandreliability/safetytips/coronavirus.

If it’s frigid outside, you may opt for alternative heating sources such as space heaters, fireplaces, generators and other appliances. Protecting the safety of our customers, employees and communities always is PSEG Long Island’s top priority. Please use extra caution while using any heating appliance to avoid fires and carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be life-threatening.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offers these tips for safely using space heaters:

1. Place the heater on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor), not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Keep the heater at least three feet from bedding, drapes, furniture and other flammable materials. Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
2. To prevent the risk of fire, NEVER leave a space heater on when you go to sleep or place a space heater close to any sleeping person. Turn the space heater off if you leave the area.
3. Use a space heater that has been tested to the latest safety standards and certified by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory. These heaters will have the most up-to-date safety features; older space heaters may not meet the newer safety standards. An unvented gas space heater that meets current safety standards will shut off if oxygen levels fall too low.
4. Make sure your heater is correctly rated for your home. An oversized heater could deplete the available oxygen, causing excess carbon monoxide to be produced. Keep a window in the room open at least one inch and keep doors open to the rest of the house to ensure proper ventilation. This helps prevent pollutant build-up and promotes proper combustion.
5. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to provide sufficient combustion air to prevent carbon monoxide production.
6. Have gas and kerosene space heaters inspected annually to ensure proper operation.
7. Do not use a kitchen range or oven to heat your house because it could overheat or generate excessive carbon monoxide.
8. Be aware that manufactured homes require specially-designed heating equipment.
9. Do not use unvented gas space heaters where prohibited by local codes.
10. Have a smoke alarm with fresh batteries on each level of the house, inside every bedroom, and outside the bedrooms in each sleeping area. In addition, have a carbon monoxide alarm outside the bedrooms in each separate sleeping area.

Please share this information – you may help save a life.