As the refreshing fall temperatures begin to drop and the frost sets in, there are a few tips that local leaders want the community to remember regarding cold weather.

Health

Personal health is always a concern in the winter months. Dr. Beth Brown at the Brookhaven Health and Wellness Center offers suggestions to battle the chill.

• Get the flu vaccination as soon as possible. It takes two weeks to go into affect, and the flu season has officially begun.

• Dress appropriately for the weather.

• Consider adding a multivitamin to your diet especially those with Vitamin C and D3.

• Reduce the transmission of viruses by practicing really good hand hygiene, which includes washing regularly, wiping shopping cart handles when wipes are available and carrying wipes in your car to clean everyday objects such as gas pumps.

• If you are sick, avoid any unnecessary contact with others.

• Increase fluid intake.

• Limit holiday sweets.

Brookhaven Health and Wellness Center offers daily services including checkups and flu shots and also sells supplements and pharmaceutical products. They are open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for walk-ins or appointments.

Fire

Police Chief Tony Weeks said there are usually more house fires during the winter months. Weeks’s tips for keeping homes and families safe during the winter:

• When using a fire place or wooden stove, make sure they are installed properly, cleaned, inspected and 36 inches from any combustible surface.

• Have your chimney inspected and clean the flue if needed.

• Do not use flammable liquid to start a fire.

• Use a fireplace screen.

• Do not refuel kerosene heaters with outdoor fuel and never fill the heater while it’s hot or on.

• Keep trash and combustibles away from furnaces.

• Make sure the furnace controls and emergency shut off are working properly.

• If repairs or inspections need to be made on a furnace, make sure only qualified and trained repairmen are looking at the device.

• When removing ashes from a wood stove or fireplace, put them in a metal container and put them completely out with water.

• Do not use a stove for supplemental heating.

• Be mindful not to overload a circuit when using an electric heater.

• Make sure if using an extension chord that the chord is not thicker than the extension chord.

• Do not use an electric heater in bathrooms.

• Do not thaw pipes with an open flame.

• Make sure to have working smoke detectors on each level of your home. Smoke detectors can be the difference between life and death.

• Practice a home escape plan in case of a fire.

• The National Fire Protection Association is opposed to the use of any consumer fireworks. They state that if you want to see fireworks, you should go to a community event when they are being shot by professionals.

• Chief Weeks advised that if you do use fireworks to follow the instructions on the package, keep them away from children and have a bucket of water on stand by. Remember a sparkler burns at 1,200 degrees and glass melts at 900.

• If using a natural Christmas tree, make sure it is well hydrated.

• Make sure Christmas lights are in good condition and they are no frayed chords or extension cables.

• Do not overload circuits.

• Most house fires start in the kitchen, so do not leave food cooking unattended and take extra precautions when children are in the room.

• If there is a power outage, do not use candles. The NFPA recommends using electric candles for decorations as well.

• Do not burn charcoal inside, it releases carbon monoxide and can kill you.

Burglary

The advent of cold weather and the holiday season can lead home and car theft. Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing has a few bits of advice for protecting yourself against thieves.

• Lock all the doors and windows.

• If going out of town for vacation, call law enforcement so they can add checking your home to their scheduled patrol.

• Do not leave valuables sitting in the open in your car.

• Always be a aware of your surroundings.

• Have a neighbor keep an eye on your home while out of town.

• Do anything you can to make it appear that someone is still at home, such as setting lights on a time, stopping the paper and holding the mail.

• Park in well lit areas while shopping and have keys in hand when going to the car.

• Charge your cell phone before leaving the house.

• When driving during the holidays, make sure to devote full attention to the task at hand. Do not allow yourself to become distracted.