Surviving the Winter with MS

so keep energy supplies in an easily accessible place. Emergency supplies should include candles or a lantern, a battery powered radio, a flashlight with fresh batteries and a supply of extra, ready-to-eat food. If power fails for an extended period, turn off all electrical appliances, keep your refrigerator and freezer door closed, draw curtains to preserve heat, and turn water on to a trickle so pipes won't freeze. If possible, call the power company to report the outage."

Of course, power outages are not the only emergencies inherent in severe weather. There are many people with MS who struggle to pay continually rising heating bills, or suffer at the hands of absent landlords who don't provide adequate heating and maintenance. There are a few things that neighbors and care partners can keep in mind to assist those who may need emergency aid this winter.

1. The first step is to gather information. Community services are available by phone or on the Internet through private and government sources. Check out information about emergency shelter and help with heating bills.

2. Note all services offered by community programs, the application process, waiting lists, income guidelines and fees that may be involved. If you need to bring in documents to apply for an emergency service, find out ahead of time which ones are acceptable.

3. Find out how to report landlords who fail to maintain warm and safe tenant dwellings as required by local/state ordinances.

4. Medical information, such as medications, names and phone numbers of doctors, should be readily available in case of an emergency.

5. Some larger cities, such as Chicago, have emergency phone numbers that residents can call if they are in need of special services (for example, city-funded shelters and warming centers).

By taking appropriate precautions, planning ahead, and making good use of community services, navigating through winter's weather hazards can be as smooth as a sleigh ride.

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References for this Article and Further Reading

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Clearinghouse Web site is an information service for state, tribal and local LIHEAP providers, and others interested in low-income energy issues. This site is a supplement to the LIHEAP-related information currently provided through its toll-free phone line (888-294-8662)

Govbot: Government search engine. GovBot has gathered a million and a half web pages from U.S. Government and Military sites around the country. You can search the GovBot database by using their web form.

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