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Cold Presents Threats to Health and Safety

Central Florida's low temperatures may not create direct threat to health, but attempts to stay warm in a cold house can create some real health problems. There are people living without heat, and seniors are among them.

There are seniors forced to endure freezing temperatures with no heat because they can’t afford to pay their electricity bill. Charity and Love Director Barbara Ansar says there’s usually state funding to help with that- but not now- it’s all been used.

 “So now I’m at a point I have to say no, I can’t help you because there’s no funding available,” she says.

Orlando Fire Department District Chief Mathew Negedly says people living without heat sometimes get creative in a dangerous way when trying to keep warm.

 “We don’t want them opening the stove or opening the oven or using the stove for a source of heat, it’s things like that when used improperly that cause fires or can produce fumes that are dangerous to the health,” she says.

He says carbon monoxide is a big concern. It’s a colorless, odorless gas that can kill and is produced by things like kerosene heaters. He says people using portable heating sources need to make sure they keep the house well ventilated and keep those heaters at least 3 feet away from anything flammable. 

 

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