Lynn shelters seek to provide reprieve from cold

LYNN – The bitter cold that is expected to envelop the region in the next few days poses a serious danger to everyone and could even be life threatening for some people, according to area officials.A frequent visitor to My Brother’s Table, a soup kitchen in downtown Lynn, died already this year from complications that were a direct result of exposure to the elements.My Brother’s Table Executive Director Dianne Kuzia Hills said the homeless are especially vulnerable to the cold.”He was found outside suffering hypothermia,” Hills said. “He was taken to the hospital but he died of organ failure. The cold damaged his internal organs. It’s something most people just don’t think about happening in this day and age.”O’Neil Gray, who is the executive director of the emergency shelter at the Lynn Shelter Association, said when temperatures plummet the need for emergency shelter space skyrockets.”This time of year we’re always full,” he said. “We have 45 beds and when the beds are filled we put mats on the floor. When it gets really cold we have up to 65 or 70 people in here. Sometimes people are sleeping in chairs.”Gray said the emergency shelter at 100 Willow St. is open from 4 p.m. until 8 a.m. during the week and 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday.Hills said My Brother’s Table deals with many clients who won’t seek shelter due to substance abuse and mental health issues.”When it’s really cold we try to open up a little early so people can come in and warm up with a cup of coffee before the meal,” she said. “This year we ordered thermal blankets that we give to some of our guests. We also try to give them gloves, hats, scarves and long underwear.”Hills said My Brother’s Table will be serving from 2:30 p.m. until 4:15 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Acting Director Kurt Schwartz said time spent outdoors should be kept to a minimum when the weather dips close to zero, as it is expected to do often during the next several days.MEMA officials recommend dressing in several layers of loose fitting, lightweight clothing rather than a single layer of heavy clothing.Outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. Wear a hat, mittens and sturdy waterproof boots to protect your extremities.Seeking refuge from the cold can pose its own dangers, according to Revere Fire Chief Eugene Doherty. He said the risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning increases during cold spells when people are trying to save money on heat or turn to alternative heating sources because they ran out of heating oil. He urged area residents not to use alternative heating sources if it is avoidable.”Makeshift heating sources pose a lot of dangers,” Doherty said.”The elderly on a tight budget tend to use the burners on a stove as a heat source. The open flame is a hazard and the flame depletes the room of oxygen.”He warned electrical heaters are extremely dangerous if used near any combustible items or plugged into an extension cord. For area residents with portable generators, Doherty said the generator should never be placed inside the home.”The home will fill with carbon monoxide and could be fatal,” Doherty said. “Using a barbecue grill in a confined space could also prove fatal.”Doherty said it is important to make sure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are functioning properly especially if it is necessary to use alternative heating sources.To keep pipes from freezing, MEMA recommends wrapping them in insulation or layers of newspapers covered with plastic to keep out moisture. and allowing a trickle of water to run from a faucet to keep the water moving so that it cannot freeze. Saugus DPW Superintendent Joe Attubato said warning signs to watch for to indicate pipes might be freezing are discolored water and low water pressure. He suggested allowing water to run in a stream that is the approximately the diameter of a pencil to keep pipes from freezing.