Cold Weather Safety

Use care with space heaters and fireplaces to prevent fires. Keep anything that could catch fire at least 3 feet (1 meter) from the heat!
Avoid using candles because of the fire risk. Use battery-powered lights and flashlights instead.
Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide poisoning is common during power outages when people use other means to heat and cook. You can prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Only use generators, grills, and camp stoves outdoors and away from windows.
Carbon monoxide kills. If you start to feel sick, dizzy, or weak, get to fresh air right away – do not delay.
To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning and home fires, never heat your home with a cooking oven or stove.

Gather food, water, and medicine before a winter storm. Stores might be closed, and it may be unsafe to travel.
You may lose access to drinking water. Set aside at least one gallon of drinking water per person per day.
Have a snow shovel and ice-melting products to keep your walkways safe.
Learn how to spot and treat frostbite and hypothermia.
Install and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors with battery back-ups.
Be ready to live without power, gas, and water.
Learn how to keep pipes from freezing.
Have a backup battery or a way to charge your cell phone.
Have a battery-powered radio to use during a power outage.

Need somewhere to get warm? In Wellesley, the following locations are are available:

The main branch of the library is open Monday-Sunday. Click here for hours and location.
The Council on Aging, 500 Washington Street. Open to the public M-F from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sit in front of the fireplace, enjoy free coffee, tea, and newspapers.
Health Department , 90 Washington Street. Open M-F from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

If you have an emergency, call 9-1-1. For the Wellesley Police Department non-emergency line, call 781-235-1212.
If you need financial help with heat this winter, contact the Health Department at 781-235-0135.