This publication from Sun Newspapers features Hurricane Preparation
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1379876
Page 32 Tips on using generators STAFF REPORT A generator can help restore life to normal during emergen- cies, but its safe use requires care and planning: Always thoroughly read the manufacturer's instructions: This helps avoid dangerous shortcuts and better ensures safe operation. Never run gas generators inside a house or in a garage: You can get carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep generators away from all open windows: This includes neighbors' windows. This prevents deadly exhaust from entering homes or businesses. Buy a battery-operated carbon-monoxide detector: You can't trust your senses to protect you from this deadly gas. Carbon monoxide is invisible and odorless. Never connect a gas generator directly to your home's wiring: Power from a generator connected to a home's wiring will "back feed" into utility lines, potentially injuring severely or killing a neighbor or utility crew working to restore service. (You can hire a licensed electrician to safely connect the generator to your house wiring using a "listed" transfer switch that meets nationally recognized safety standards as indicated by the UL Listing Mark). Don't overload: Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for proper use and capacity. Overloading the generator can result in damage to appliances it is powering. Stationary generators (permanently installed): They rely on an automatic transfer switch that senses when power has been interrupted and automatically starts the generator. Conversely, when power has been restored, the generator powers off. These generators should be looked at and, if necessary, serviced twice each year. SHUTTERSTOCK Make sure to read the instructions before operating a generator. What to eat, what to trash after the storm STAFF REPORT After a storm, don't risk losing your health to contaminated or spoiled food. The following foods are safe if you wash and sanitize their containers before use. Also wash, sanitize and peel fruit or vegetables before eating or cooking. FOOD TO USE • Food in undamaged tin or aluminum cans. Be sure to wash and sanitize the food container before opening the can. • Potatoes • Citrus fruit • Apples and other fruit. Do not eat raw. FOOD TO DISCARD Do not attempt to save the following foods if there is any chance they have come in contact with floodwater or other contamination: • Opened containers and packages. • Unopened jars and bottles with paper seals, such as those containing mayonnaise or salad dressing. • Containers of spices, seasonings and flavorings. • Flour, sugar and coffee in canisters. • Paper, cloth, fiber or cardboard boxes, even if the contents seem to be dry. This includes salt, cereals, pasta products, rice and any "sealed" packages of crackers or cookies within a larger paper box. • Dented, bulging or leaking tin cans. Cans that have been tossed about and are found far from their usual storage spot. Seams on these cans may have been weakened or their seals broken, causing contamination or spoilage. • Jam or jelly sealed with paraffin. • Containers with non-sealed, fitted lids, such as cocoa or baking powder. • Commercially bottled carbonated beverages, if the cap is crusted with silt. • Foil or cellophane packaged foods. • All fresh vegetables and fruit that do not have a peel, shell or coating that can be removed before use, such as leafy vegetables. Also, fruit with damage at the stem end that would allow water to contact the inside. • Fresh meat, fish and poultry that has been in contact with flood waters. • Home-canned foods, even if the jar seems tightly sealed.