SOURCE: Enviro-Log, inc.

  Feb 15, 2011 10:57 ET

ATLANTA, GA–(Marketwire – February 15, 2011) –  Enviro-Log®, inc., an eco-friendly, consumer products and recycling company, wants to ensure you are prepared for the heavy snow and dangerously low temperatures winter storms can bring. In addition to chilly conditions outdoors, power outages during cold weather can cause the temperature inside your house to drop rapidly. According to the National Weather Service, about 20 percent of all deaths related to cold exposure occur in the house.

“We encourage every household to have an emergency kit in case of a prolonged power outage,” said Ross McRoy, president of Enviro-Log. ”The kit should contain items such as a flashlight, batteries, candles, matches, firewood, firelogs, a battery powered radio, a first aid kit, bottled water, canned food, and a manual can opener. if your home does not have an alternate heat source, such as a fireplace or portable propane or kerosene heater, it is best to seek shelter elsewhere.”

Recent winter storms have caused major power outages across the country. 174,000 homes lost power just in the Chicago area on February 1. on February 2, in Texas, an average of 330,000 customers suffered from power outages on a rotating basis throughout the day. Another 20,000 customers in New York and New Jersey were affected by power outages on February 7.

“We have a free standing open wood stove and during this recent very unusual cold front, when our power went out, Enviro-Log firelogs kept us and some neighbors warm,” said mark Shippy, an Enviro-Log customer in Texas. ”We were very pleased at how easy the firelogs were to light, and how safely they burned. We especially liked how much heat they produced and that we were able to burn more than one at a time.”

Enviro-Log offers these other winter storm safety tips to ensure your health and safety during the harsh winter weather:

• Monitor weather conditions. Listen to your radio, television, or check weather.com/ for weather reports and emergency information from the National Weather Service.

• Avoid over-exertion when shoveling snow. before tackling strenuous tasks in cold temperatures, consider your physical condition, the weather factors and the nature of the task. Over-exertion can bring on a heart attack, a major cause of death in the winter.

• Carry an emergency kit in your vehicle. Every vehicle should have an emergency kit in case you get stranded or your car breaks down. The emergency kit should be stocked with the following items: blankets/sleeping bags, cellular phone or two-way radio, windshield scraper, snow brush, flashlight with extra batteries, extra winter clothes, shovel, tow chain, matches, traction aids (bag of sand or cat litter), emergency flares, jumper cables, snacks, water, a first aid kit and road maps.

• Watch for signs of frostbite or hypothermia. Protect yourself from frostbite and hypothermia by wearing warm, loose-fitting, lightweight clothing in several layers. keep your head and hands covered if you go outdoors. The signs of frostbite include loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes and the tip of the nose. Signs of hypothermia can include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and apparent exhaustion. if symptoms are detected, seek medical help immediately.

• Check on neighbors and relatives. Help people who require special assistance such as elderly people living alone, people with disabilities and children.

• Keep pipes from freezing. If temperatures remain below freezing, the pipes in your home may freeze. Running water, even at a trickle, helps prevent pipes from freezing. 

For additional information on winter weather safety visit:

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — fema.gov/hazard/winter/index.shtm
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/

About Enviro-Log, inc.  Enviro-Log® is an eco-friendly, consumer products and recycling company headquartered in Fitzgerald, Ga. Enviro-Log is the largest waxed cardboard recycler in North America and the third largest producer of manufactured firelogs in the U.S. its firelogs are made of 100 percent recycled materials and burn cleaner than wood while providing 50 percent more heat per pound. Enviro-Log firelogs can be purchased at select national retail locations including Home Depot, K-Mart, whole Foods, Weis Markets, Fred Meyer, Harris Teeter, Winn-Dixie and regional retailers throughout the U.S. Enviro-Log firelogs are also available in Canada at Lowe’s, Wal-Mart, and Canadian Tire locations. you can also follow Enviro-Log on Facebook® at facebook.com/pages/Enviro-Log-Firelogs/175880509093982

Enviro-Log is a registered trademark of Enviro-Log, inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are properties of their respective companies.

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