What You Need to Know About Cold Stress
The elderly population is disproportionately affected by hypothermia (commonly known as cold stress), caused by excessive body heat loss and exposure to cold. Those who don’t dress warmly enough; live in a cold room or house; lack shelter from the snow, rain, wind, and water; eat poorly and take certain prescription medications* are at risk for cold stress. Cold stress can happen indoors, even at temperatures as mild as 60°- 70°F. Protect yourself and your loved ones this winter by learning about cold stress and following these simple guidelines:

Symptoms of Cold Stress:

• Sleepiness (difficulty waking up)
• Confusion
• Slurred speech
• Lack of coordination
• Uncontrolled shivering
• Weak, slow pulse
• Slow breathing
• Puffy face
• Cold, stiff muscles
• Trembling of one side of the body or in one arm or leg
• Change in behavior or personality

How to Reduce Your Risk of Cold Stress:

• Stay warm and dry, indoors and outdoors
• Avoid exposure to snow, wind, rain and water/dampness
• Dress warmly
  • Wear loose layers of clothing, especially woolens
  • Cover head and neck (wear a hat and scarf)
  • Wear gloves or mittens
  • Change socks and long underwear if they become damp or wet
  • Wear warm shoes and socks
• Keep skin and clothing dry to lessen the chance of frostbite
• Eat nutritious meals on a regular basis, especially a hot meal
• Drink a lot of fluids

What To Do in an Emergency:

• DO call 9-1-1 for medical assistance
• DO cover head and neck
• DO wrap in blankets, towels, extra clothes, or newspaper
• DO handle the person gently
• DO warm the person gradually
• DO take off wet clothes and provide warm, dry clothing

What Not To Do in an Emergency:

• DO NOT give hot drinks or hot food
• DO NOT give alcohol or medications
• DO NOT bathe or shower
• DO NOT rub or massage arms or legs

* If taking medication for high blood pressure, nervousness, depression, poor circulation or sleeplessness, talk about hypothermia/cold stress with your doctor.

Click here to download:
Senior Tips for Weathering the Winter:
What You Need to Know About Cold Stress
(Microsoft Word Doc)


What You Need to Know About Weatherization
Poor insulation, drafty windows and clogged furnace filters are just a few of the things that can drive up heating bills this winter and raise the risk of developing hypothermia or cold stress. Weatherization, or protecting homes against cold winter weather, can help solve these problems and keep you warm and dry this winter. The following weatherization guidelines can help reduce heating costs and improve energy efficiency in homes:

Tips for Weatherizing Your Home:

• Inspect home for cracks or openings around doors, windows, fireplaces, vents, and electrical outlets
• Use caulk, weatherstrip or plastic to cover cracks and air leaks
• Install storm windows and/or doors
• Make sure doors fit snugly and are weatherstripped, repair any cracked glass or loose putty, and fix leaky faucets
• Add insulation to the attic and other unheated areas such as basements, crawl spaces and areas around the garage
• Keep thermostats between 68 and 70 degrees and lower the heat when not at home
• Add extra blankets to the bed while sleeping
• Open drapes to let in sunlight during the day
• Close drapes at night (insulated drapes will prevent more heat loss)
• Close the doors to unheated spaces and rooms
• Have the furnace inspected each winter to ensure it is working properly and regularly replace the filters
• Use kitchen and bath ventilating fans sparingly in cold weather, as these fans can blow away a houseful of warm air in a short period of time
• If radiators are located near cold walls, place a sheet of aluminum foil between the radiator and the wall to reflect heat back into the room
• Adjust heat registers to direct the flow of air across the floor to allow warm air to rise
• Clean heat registers, baseboard heaters and radiators regularly and make sure they are not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes
• Set the temperature on the hot water heater to 120 degrees

Fast Facts about Weatherization and Energy Efficiency:

• Turning your thermostat down 5-7 degrees for 8 hours a day can help save you an average of $200 on annual heating bills, depending on the size of your home
• Sealing air leaks and installing proper insulation can increase the comfort of homes while reducing heating costs by as much as $300 per year
• Ceiling fans, when the blades are reversed to draw warm air down into living spaces, can cut heating bills by as much as 10 percent and save you between $100-$300, depending on the size of your home
• If possible, replace aging appliances with new high-efficiency equipment. A newer, 93 percent-efficient furnace saves an average of $135 per year in fuel costs, compared to a conventional 78 percent-efficient model

Click here to download:
Senior Tips for Weathering the Winter:
What You Need to Know About Weatherization
(Microsoft Word Doc)

Sometimes the best way to help is by knowing where to find help, and who to contact in an emergency.

Bill Assistance

Crisis Program
215-560-1583
City Crisis is federally funded and administered by the Department of Licenses and Inspections to help low-income households in a heating crisis.

Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA)
http://www.ecasavesenergy.org/nec.html
ECA is a non-profit corporation that coordinates and provides energy services—including conservation, heater repair, energy education and bill payment assistance—for low- and moderate-income Philadelphians.

Homeowners Emergency Loan Program (HELP)
215-685-4901
This program offers interest-free emergency loans payable over five years to customers who were issued a plumbing or drainage violation from the Philadelphia Water Department.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
215-560-1583
This federal program helps people with low incomes pay for primary or secondary heating costs. Available once a year for homeowners or renters.

PECO Customer Assistance Program (CAP)
1-800-774-7040
CAP Rate offers a discount on the first 500 kWh of electric usage for low-income households (those at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines), and who are having difficulty making payments.

PGW Conservation and Customer Responsibility Program (CRP)
215-235-1000
PGW offers this customer assistance program to help low-income customers afford and maintain gas service.

Philadelphia Water Department Water Revenue Assistance Program (WRAP)
215-686-6880
WRAP provides cash assistance from the city of up to $200 to help low-income customers (those at or below 175% of poverty level) pay delinquent water bills.

Stay Warm PA Initiative
www.StayWarmPA.com
Governor Edward G. Rendell has presented a comprehensive Stay Warm PA program to make sure Pennsylvania's most vulnerable citizens are warm and protected as cold weather approaches and homeowner energy bills are expected to jump as much as 48 percent.

Utility Emergency Services Fund (UESF)
215-972-5170
Privately funded, UESF helps people who have exhausted all other public sources of funding for gas, electric and water utility bills.

General Assistance


Community Legal Services
215-981-3777   
The CLS Elderly Law Project specializes in helping seniors overcome
some of the unique problems faced by people over 60, including matters
related to energy assistance.

Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA)
http://www.ecasavesenergy.org/nec.html
ECA is a non-profit corporation that coordinates and provides energy services—including conservation, heater repair, energy education and bill payment assistance—for low- and moderate-income Philadelphians.

PCA Helpline
215-765-9040
The PCA Helpline provides a wealth of information, help, education, energy assistance programs and other community resources.

PECO Low-Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP)
1-800-675-0222
This free conservation and education program for low-income customers helps reduce energy consumption by installing weatherizing measures and offering energy conservation tips.

Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation (PHDC's)
Weatherization Program
215-448-2160
Provides free weatherizing and energy efficiency improvements, for any fuel type, to both homeowners and renters. PHDC's 40 page Weatherization Manual with information on how to weatherize your home, reduce energy use and access energy-assistance programs is free. For a copy, call 215-686-9723.

SeniorLAW Center
Intake Line:  215-988-1242 (Mon.-Fri. 9am-1pm)
Pennsylvania SeniorLAW HelpLine: 
1-877-PA SR LAW (Mon.-Fri. 10am-1pm).
www.seniorlawcenter.org
SeniorLAW Center provides free legal representation, counsel and
information for Philadelphia seniors in need.  They assist with a
variety of legal-related utility and housing issues, including:
wrongful shutoffs of utilities, utility contracts and warranties, home
repair and contractor fraud, financial exploitation, deed issues,
mortgage disputes, evictions, and tenants' rights. 

Stay Warm PA Initiative
www.StayWarmPA.com
Governor Edward G. Rendell has presented a comprehensive Stay Warm PA program to make sure Pennsylvania's most vulnerable citizens are warm and protected as cold weather approaches and homeowner energy bills are expected to jump as much as 48 percent.

Temple Elderly Law Project
215-204-6887
Provides free general assistance and referral services to persons 60
and over, including matters related to energy assistance.

Click here to download:
Where to Find Help: Resource Guide
(Microsoft Word Doc)