We are now one full week into winter. Yep, just a week.

The ice storm was a rough way to settle in to the season, and forecasters have predicted a particularly cold and snowy season, with the next storm expected Sunday evening and overnight.

So, we share a couple of particularly good — and timely — warnings issued by state officials this week.

The first follows the death of a 50-year-old Knox man on Christmas Eve.

According to police, Timothy Woods had been running his generator in a closed, detached garage through the early morning and went into the garage to refill it with gas. Fifteen minutes later, when his family went outside to look for him, he was dead.

Carbon monoxide is called the silent killer because it robs the air of oxygen, starving your brain and causing disorientation before death. So, as you’re being poisoned you can’t even figure out what’s going on quickly enough to know you’re in trouble. It happens that fast.

And, even if a person is found and revived, one episode of carbon monoxide poisoning doubles the risk of premature death as we age.

During the past week, as ice encased parts of the United States and Canada, at least eight people have died from carbon monoxide poisoning and plenty more have gotten sick.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services issued some simple advice last week: If the power goes out, generators go out.

Generators should be used outside; never in a closed or even partly closed space like a basement or attached garage. And, when using a generator, make sure it’s positioned at least 15 feet from windows or doors leading to a living space.

Every home should have a carbon monoxide detector that runs on batteries (in case you lose power) to provide an early warning in case of malfunctioning boilers, and no one should ever use a charcoal or gas grill indoors.

Carbon monoxide results from burning fuel, so if you’re burning fuel, do it outside where the poison can dissipate.

And now, the second warning.

While we know it’s tempting to go into do-it-yourself mode when you see a couple of tiny branches hanging up there on the power line, or maybe a small tree bending over a line, resist the urge.

No one wants to be without power, so the thought that it wouldn’t take much to dislodge that tiny branch or to take down that tree yourself is enticing.

Don’t do it.

Safety experts, utility companies and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry have all issued stern warnings for customers not to tangle with trees, branches or any debris hanging near or over power lines.

Think of former Vice President Al Gore, and his dangerous misstep on national television: No line is safe to touch, ever. Remember?

Not ever.

State foresters issued this advice this week:

• Homeowners in immediate need to remove branches and trees from power lines to restore service should call local power companies.

• Do not work around limbs that have broken off, or partially broken off, and are hung up in a tree crown. Contact a licensed (and insured) arborist.

• Be wary of fly-by-night emergency tree-cutting services that spring up to repair or remove trees. Storm-damaged trees offer special challenges and should be cared for by experienced arborists. Maine maintains a list of licensed arborists here: http://tinyurl.com/mrk7jvm. Do not shake ice from trees, even if you think it might help sagging limbs recover. Shaking the limbs might break them. Bent-over trees, particularly birches, will often recover once the ice melts, so let nature take care of her forest.

These two warnings are lifesavers, and we urge you to take note.

As we brace for another 12 weeks of winter, be smart. Be safe.

Get the generators outside.

Don’t mess with limbs and trees around power lines.

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The opinions expressed in this column reflect the views of the ownership and the editorial board.