NEEDHAM, MA—As the temperature starts to drop, don’t drop the ball on protecting yourself and your home from the cold this winter.

The Center for Disease Control advises people be ready for winter with these tips:

1. Weatherproof your home: Insulate walls and the attic, caulk and weather-strip doors and windows, have your chimney or flue inspected every year and install a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector in your home.
2. Prepare yourself for exposure to winter weather: Dress warmly and limit exposure to the cold to prevent frostbite and avoid getting wet to prevent hypothermia.
3. Make sure your car is ready for travel: Check antifreeze level and have radiator system serviced, replace worn tires and check tire air pressure, keep gas tank full to avoid ice in tank and fuel lines, and make a winter emergency kit to keep in your car.
4. Pets: Bring pets indoors as temperatures drop and never leave lit candles or other flames unattended.
5. If power lines are down, call your local utility and emergency services: If power lines fall on your car, warn people not to touch the car or power lines.

Shared from Needham Patch