AS the warm days of summer fade into distant memory and mild autumn weather gives way to wetter, windier and colder conditions, we have to accept, reluctantly, that winter is well and truly on its way.

We don't know what nature will throw at us over the coming months but in Scotland winter is rarely a hospitable season.

That's why it's important to prepare ourselves now for all eventualities - at home, on the road, at work and in our communities.

Once again the British Red Cross, in partnership with the Scottish Government and other organisations, is determined to drive the message home with this year's Ready For Winter? campaign.

The campaign - now in its fourth year - offers practical tips and advice on how we can all prepare ourselves to withstand the rigours of winter by taking a few simple steps.

But after two consecutive, comparatively mild winters we have another danger to beware of - complacency.

Getting ready for winter doesn't just mean being able to deal with snow, ice and sub-zero temperatures. High winds and torrential rain can also cause danger, damage and discomfort.

We can't control the weather but we can make our lives much more comfortable if and when extreme conditions strike.

Past research carried out jointly by the British Red Cross and the Scottish Government showed that people were most concerned about power cuts, being cut off from water supplies or disruption to fuel supplies during extreme winter weather.

It also revealed the vast majority of car owners thought they were doing enough to prepare for poor driving conditions with just an ice-scraper and de-icer.

Useful as these items are, they won't keep drivers and passengers warm, fed and watered should severe weather descend during a journey.

Our campaign addresses these points with a wealth of simple advice on how to prepare for a wide range of eventualities. We make no apology for repeating it year after year. It's good advice and we hope that everyone will act on it. I have.

Preparations to be made at home: make sure you have a supply of items such as ready-to-eat food (that won't go off); bottled water; a torch - either battery-powered or wind-up; a battery-powered radio; spare batteries; a charged mobile phone. In addition, you should now how to turn off your utilities, register with the Floodline alert service and always have a list of key telephone numbers to contact if you need help.

For a road journey: check the conditions before you head out; always keep extra, warm clothing in the car during winter; have a blanket handy; keep some snacks such as energy bars and a bottle of water in your glove compartment; have a shovel in the boot to dig yourself out of snow; make sure you have plenty of fuel and keep your mobile phone charged.

In the community: make sure elderly or vulnerable neighbours in your street have what they need to cope; look in on them regularly to check they're alright; be a good neighbour.

We are all at risk when severe weather strikes, no matter where we live.

A power cut or disruption to the water supply is just as inconvenient and uncomfortable in the middle of a big city as it is in a remote part of the country.

Emergency services, local authorities, utility companies and government agencies will be on constant alert to deal with extreme conditions throughout winter.

So, too, will thousands of highly trained Red Cross emergency response volunteers throughout the country be ready, as always, to help people in crisis.

l For more advice on the simple steps you can take to prepare for winter go to www.readyscotland.org/