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URGENT REMINDER: Prepare Your Practice for Next Week’s Extreme Cold
This is an important follow-up to the cold weather preparedness email sent earlier this week. Forecasts continue to indicate frigid temperatures arriving early next week, and we strongly urge practices to take action now.
In recent years, multiple Kids Health First practices have experienced severe flooding, equipment damage, and costly operational disruptions—often totaling tens of thousands of dollars—due to frozen pipes and power outages.
Please review and complete the following reminders as soon as possible:
Protect Your Pipes
- Open cabinet doors at night to allow warm air to circulate around pipes
- Let cold water drip from faucets connected to exterior pipes
- Use pipe sleeves to insulate exposed piping
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Keep thermostats set to the same temperature overnight as during the day (no lower than 55°F)
Prepare for Emergencies
- Confirm emergency contact lists, including after-hours maintenance and building management
- Ensure staff contact lists or phone trees are current and ready to use
- Set weather alerts on your phone to stay informed of changing conditions
- Move equipment, power strips, and important files off the floor
- Test backup generators and confirm IT systems are protected
- Verify vaccines are connected to backup power or have a relocation/storage plan in place
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Review VFC guidance for vaccine protection during power outages, if needed
Taking these steps now can help protect your facility, avoid costly repairs, and minimize disruptions to patient care.
Please don’t delay—preparation ahead of the cold weather event is critical.
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