With a cold night rolling in, now is a good time to go over a few safety tips when it comes to heating your home and staying warm. This may be just a small taste of what the weather will be like when December and January arrive, but now is a good time to get ready for the cooler months.

If you have a wood fireplace, make sure you have it and the chimney inspected and cleaned before lighting the first log. If you did not test your smoke detector batteries when the time changed, do so now. 

Colder weather also brings a higher risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is produced by burning fuel in cars, trucks, portable generators or furnaces.

If you regularly use space heaters, please follow the safety instructions for the device you are using. Make sure the heater is on a level surface and out of reach from children and pets.

Speaking of pets, it is also important to not forget if you have pets outside, bring them inside, so they are protected from the elements.

The Troup County School System reminded everyone through Facebook to take care to dress for the cold weather with coats, hats, gloves, scarves, earmuffs and other warm clothing.

These are just a few tips to keep everyone in Troup County safe during the cold months. If you have more concerns, visit Cdc.gov for more tips on staying safe and healthy during winter months.