How to stay well during the cold weather
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended its cold weather alert and is continuing to encourage people to stay warm and look out for those most at risk as freezing conditions persist across the country.
The Met Office is warning that all regions of England will continue to experience cold weather until around midday on Sunday 18 December.
Keep warm
You should heat your home to a temperature that is comfortable for you. In rooms you mostly use such as the living room or bedroom, try to heat them to at least 18°C if you can, particularly if you have a pre-existing medical condition. You should also keep your bedroom windows closed at night. Exposure to low indoor temperatures can have a serious impact on your health as you get older. Wearing several layers of clothing will keep you warmer than one thicker layer.
Get financial support
There are grants, benefits and sources of advice available to make your home more energy efficient, improve your heating or help with bills. There are also support measures in place to help with the cost of living. For further advice on these support measures, visit Age UK’s website or call 0800 169 6565 and quote ‘WINTER’.
Look after yourself
If you’re aged 50 or over, or are a carer, you’re eligible for a free flu jab and an autumn COVID-19 booster this winter. Contact your GP or pharmacist or visit the NHS website to learn more.
Don’t delay treating minor winter ailments like colds or sore throats. Visit your local pharmacist for advice and treatment.
If you are feeling down or out of sorts, chat to someone or contact your GP.
Wear shoes with good grip when you go outside to avoid slips and falls on slippery or icy surfaces.
When you’re indoors, try not to sit still for more than an hour or so. If you find it difficult to move about, stretching your arms and legs can also help keep you warm.
If you have visitors, it can help stop the spread of germs to ventilate the room for a few minutes before and after they arrive. You might be more comfortable leaving the window open during their visit, if it’s not too cold.
If bad weather is forecast, check you’ve got enough medication and food in case it’s harder to leave the house.
If you are worried about your health, contact your local pharmacist, 111 or your GP, who will all be able to offer advice and support. In an emergency dial 999.
Prepare your home
Have your heating and cooking appliances checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer to make sure they are working safely.
Contact your water and power suppliers to see if you can be on the Priority Services Register, a free support service that helps people in vulnerable situations.
Further information
For more information about how to stay warm and well in winter, visit Age UK’s website or call 0800 169 6565 and remember to quote ‘WINTER’.
Further information can be found on the NHS webpage How to stay well in winter.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said:
As this period of cold weather persists throughout the rest of the week, it is important to check in on the wellbeing of those most vulnerable to the cold, including those over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing medical conditions.
Try to heat the rooms you use the most to at least 18°C if you can and keep your bedroom window shut at night.
Paul Gundersen, a Chief Forecaster at the Met Office, said:
Over the last week, the UK has been in a northerly airflow bringing cold, sometimes Arctic air, to the UK.
We will still have this northerly influence to our weather patterns until the weekend, but then the cold conditions will lose exclusive dominance over the UK’s weather and we will move into a more changeable regime with relatively mild and relatively cold conditions vying for supremacy.
