Depending on where you live winter can be mild or very frigid. When temperatures drop there are precautions and steps you must take to keep your home, family, and pets safe.

Freezing temperatures, snow, ice, and wind chill can pose serious risks to your health and safety.

Before winter sets in, prepare your home for extreme temperature changes. Have your furnace serviced by a professional. They can clean and check the furnace to make sure it is in working order. Have replacement furnace filters on hand and change them every few months.

If you live in an area where temperatures drop below freezing wrap your pipes in insulation. Frozen pipes can burst causing water damage, loss of water service and an expensive repair bill. You can also Install heat tape on any plumbing that is susceptible to freezing.

Install weather stripping on doors and windows and seal any cracks or open areas. If your home is not insulated properly consider having insulation installed before temperatures drop.

Clean your gutters, gutters full of debris increase your chance of having ice form on your roof and prevents water from flowing away from your house.

Create an emergency kit which can include non-perishable food items, water, flashlights, batteries, cell phone and chargers, personal hygiene items, medications, blankets and warm clothing, an emergency generator, a first aid kit and cash and anything else you may need if you lose power or are snowed in.

Keep your phones and other devices charged in case of a power outage.

Keep ice salt and snow shovels on hand.

Prepare your vehicle for winter, take it to a mechanic for an oil change and tune-up. Consider having two sets of tires, summer and winter. Snow tires can make all the difference in ice and snow. Keep an emergency kit in your car as well.

Watch weather reports.

Stock up on groceries during the winter so that if you are unable to leave the house you have everything you need on hand.

Dress appropriately for the weather, wear clothing that protects you from the elements. You never know what can happen when you leave the house. Your car could break down, you could be involved in an accident or something else could happen that exposes you to the cold for an extended period. Always leave prepared.

Familiarize yourself with the symptoms of frostbite and hypothermia, both can happen quickly in cold weather.

Keep your pets safe, they should never be left outdoors during cold weather. Wipe their paws when they come in, ice melting salts can be harmful to pets, and snow and ice can stick to their paws.