Keep Warm, Keep Well: Be prepared for the cold weather

There’s more to feeling ‘under the weather’ than most people realise; cold and wintry conditions can cause illness.  The cold weather, combined with low levels of sunlight after the clocks go back, means that many of us feel in poor health.

Severe cold snaps like those we have suffered recently can have dramatic effects on everyday life, especially for those people who are already vulnerable as a result of their age, illness or disability.
We are more likely to catch a cold or flu during winter. Cold weather can also cause other serious health problems like pneumonia. It is essential to keep warm in winter and there are some simple things you can do to keep warm and stay healthy:

Check the weather forecast

The Met Office provides weather forecasts on radio and TV, and tuning in to these bulletins regularly can help you keep up to date with the weather.

Severe weather warnings are issued on the Met Office website www.metoffice.gov.uk , or you can ring the Customer Centre on 0870 900 0100. The centre is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide you with accurate and timely weather information so that you can stay one step ahead of the weather.

During the day:

  • set your thermostat to 21ºC (70ºF) and heat all the rooms you use in the day
  • keep your living room warm throughout the day
  • wear plenty of thin layers, rather than one thick ones
  • wrap up when you go outside
  • heat your bedroom before going to bed.

At night:

  • keep the temperature above 18°C (65°F) in your bedroom overnight.  This is especially important for people who may be at higher risk from the cold weather, such as over 60’s, people living with a disability or people who are unwell.  (Please note if you are healthy and well it may not be necessary to heat your bedroom to this temperature)
  • use either an electric blanket or a hot water bottle to help you keep warm.Use electric blankets as instructed and never use an electric blanket and a hot water bottle together
  • wear clothes made of wool, cotton, or fleecy synthetic fibres
  • stay warm in bed with bed socks, thermal underwear, a nightcap or headscarf.


Vulnerable groups

Some groups of people are more vulnerable to the cold than others. This includes older people, young children and those who have a long term condition (for example asthma or diabetes) or those with a disability.
If you have a long term condition or disability think about making a plan if the weather looks like it will be getting worse and you can’t get about as easily. Make sure you have enough medicines in and enough to eat and drink. Contact your GP to arrange to have your flu jab. You can get a free flu jab if you:

  • have a serious heart, lung or kidney or liver problem, asthma or diabetes
  • have a weak immune system
  • have had a stroke or TIA (a less serious or mini stroke)
  • are pregnant
  • are aged over 65 years.

Winter Fuel Payments

If you are over 60 then you may be entitled to additional winter fuel payments. You could receive a payment if you meet the following requirements:

  • you get a State Pension or some other types of benefit
  • you got a payment last winter and your needs have not changed.

You can ask for Winter Fuel up to 30th March 2011.

To find out more about winter fuel payments contact www.directgov/winterfuel or telephone 08459 151515 (textphone 0845 501 5613) 8.30-4.30 Monday to Friday.

You may also be able to get a cold weather payment if you:

  • are receiving pension credit
  • are on certain benefits such as income support and others
  • or someone in your family is disabled
  • have a disabled child under the age of 5.

Colds and Flu

Whatever age you are, make sure you look after yourself and try not to catch colds and flu. You can protect yourself by:

  • covering up your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough and sneeze
  • making sure your children cover their mouth and nose when they cough and sneeze
  • throw away tissues once used
  • wash your hands with soap and water
  • make sure you have some cough and cold cures that do not need a prescription
  • eat well.

Some tips to protect yourself and others from catching your coughs and colds are:

  • never use a hanky - always tissues CATCH IT
  • use clean tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze
  • bin the tissue after one use BIN IT
  • wash your hands or use a alcohol gel KILL IT.

Remember catch it, bin it, kill it.

Winter vomiting viruses are the most common cause of nasty tummy bugs, sickness and diarrhoea.  If you are poorly:

1. wash hands well after using the toilet
2. drink plenty of fluids to stop dehydration
3. don’t visit family/friends in hospitals and care homes
4. remain off work/school until 48 hours after symptoms have stopped.

For further information and advice :

Older people: Age UK on 0800 169 6565


Benefits, heating and grants – Citizens Advice Bureau http://www.kirkleescitizensadvice.org.uk

For advice about how to get your bills under control contact:

The Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99 or www.homeheathelpline.org.uk  It is open from 9.00am to 8.00pm Monday to Friday and 10.00am to 2.00pm on Saturdays. You can access the Helpline on minicom 0800 027 2122 which has access to an interpreting service.

For advice on how to save energy please contact the Energy Savings Trust www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

Further information can also be found at the following links:

Keep Warm, Keep Well - large print leaflet

Keep Warm, Keep Well - easy read leaflet

Keep Warm, Keep Well - Your top five tips for keeping warm and well

Choose Well - by choosing well you’ll get the right treatment, at the right time, and help busy NHS services care for people who really need them. Click here to visit Choose Well on the NHS Kirklees website.