Food Safety During Power Outage
In the event your power goes off, here are a few guidelines about food safety:
Freezer
| Without power, a full upright or chest freezer will keep everything frozen for about two days |
| A half-full freezer will keep food frozen for about one day |
| Keep your fridge and freezer door closed as much as possible |
| Ice will keep your freezer colder |
| If the power outage continues, and you are at all in doubt about the safety of your food, throw it out. |
Fridge
| Without power, your refrigerator should keep food cool for 4-6 hours |
| Put ice in your refrigerator if you have it |
| If you have thawed food, and it still contains ice crystals or feels cold, it can be re-frozen |
| Discard any thawed food that has been at room temperature for two hours or more |
| Immediately discard any food with a strange odour or colour |
If in any doubt, throw it out, especially foods such as meat, fish, chicken, eggs, and dairy.
Heat
| Call or visit elderly or ill friends and neighbours who may be suffering from the heat |
| People with out power who are house bound may be particularly vulnerable |
| People at greatest risk include the elderly, infants and young children, the chronically ill, the disabled and those taking medications (e.g., for mental illness) |
| Drink lots of water and natural fruit juices |
| Eat small, light and easily digested meals that don't require heating |
| Wear loose-fitting/light weight clothing |
| Stay out of the blazing sun or heat |
| Avoid strenuous physical activity |
| If you have power, turn off all unnecessary lights and appliances |
| Heat can affect children and the elderly much quicker than normally |
| Never leave children unattended in a car |
| Signs of heat stroke or heat illness include rapid breathing, headache, weakness or fainting, confusion, and more tiredness than usual |
The most severe health effect of heat is heat stroke, when the body temperature is greater than 40.6 degrees Celsius, with no sweating, and altered consciousness or coma. Anyone who has difficulty breathing or feels confused or disoriented should seek medical attention immediately.
Pets
| Keep pets indoors or in a cool area |
| Ensure pets have constant access to fresh water. |
| Never leave your pet unattended in your vehicle during hot weather |
| Contact your vet if you feel your pet needs veterinary attention |
Water
| Emergency Services is working to ensure the safety of the water quality |
| Conserve water - do not water your lawn or wash your car, avoid doing laundry. |
Infant formula preparation tips if power remains out
| Wash bottles well with hot water and soap. Rinse well |
| Use ready to feed formula |
| If not available, use powdered formula |
| Prepare only one bottle at a time using boiled, distilled, or bottled water, or fresh cold tap water that has run for two minutes |
| Storage of formula - follow the same guidelines as for food listed above. |
For more information:
INFO Line: 1-800-268-1154
TeleHealth: 1-866-797-0000
www.gov.on.ca