Stapleford Abbotts Parish Council

During periods of cold and icy weather, people who are older, clinically vulnerable, or socially isolated can be particularly at risk. We are asking for your support in sharing cold-weather health advice to help keep people safe and well.

Stay warm this winter

There are a number of ways to look after yourself in the winter.

Keep your home warm

You should heat your home to a temperature that is comfortable for you. Low indoor temperatures can have a serious impact on your health, especially if you have medical conditions or are older.

Simple changes can help to keep you and your home warm. These include:

• Try to heat rooms you spend a lot of time in, such as the living room or bedroom, to at least 18°C
• Try to reduce draughts – you can fit draft excluders around doors cheaply
• Keep your bedroom windows closed at night
• Wear several layers of thinner clothing – this could keep you warmer than one thicker layer

Seek financial support

People in financial difficulty may find it more difficult to heat their homes sufficiently. This increases the risk of becoming unwell due to cold exposure.

There are grants, benefits and sources of advice available to help youmake your home more energy efficient,improve your heating or help manage energy bills. There are also support measures in place to help with the cost of living,especially for those on low incomes.

For example, if you claim certain benefits or tax credits, you may be eligible for an extra payment from the government to help with the cost of living. The government has publishedenergy saving tips to help save money on bills.

Look after yourself

There are other things you can do to reduce risks from cold exposure to yourself and others around you.

You should treat minor winter ailments like colds or sore throats promptly. NHS England provides information on steps you can take to managecolds orsore throats yourself, and when it may be appropriate to visit your local pharmacist for further advice and treatment. You can find details for your nearest pharmacy bysearching online.

If you are worried about your health or feeling down, contact your local pharmacist, NHS 111 or your GP, who will all be able to offer advice and support. In an emergency dial 999.

When you are indoors, there are things you can do that will help to keep you warm and reduce the risk of developing medical problems, for example:

• 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
• When out and about, wear shoes with good grip to avoid slips and falls on slippery or icy surfaces

Look after others

Other people around you, particularly older neighbours, family friends and neighbours, may need extra support during cold weather. To support others you can:

• Keep in touch with them and ask whether they are feeling unwell, or whether they need any practical help
• If bad weather is forecast, see if they need any help stocking up on food and medication
• If you are worried about someone else’s health, contact your local pharmacist, your GP or NHS 111, who will all be able to offer advice and support
• If you think they may have hypothermia, contact NHS 111 for further assessment, and in an emergency dial 999; typical signs that someone may be suffering from hypothermia include shivering, slow breathing, tiredness or confusion, and pale, cold skin

Prepare your home

Longer term improvements to your house can greatly improve your comfort but can be expensive. Depending on what you can afford, options may include:

• Regular servicing of your heating appliances can keep them working efficiently and for longer, saving you money
• Insulation for water pipes to prevent them from freezing in cold weather
• Loft insulation
• Internal, cavity or external wall insulation
• Double (or triple) window glazing

Find out more about eligibility for support with energy efficiency improvements through‘Help to Heat’. If you need financial or energy efficiency support, you can contact your local authority to see what support is available in your area

The Energy Saving Trust has tips on things you can do, including advice on more efficient ways to heat your home and improving insulation.

Advice and support

For more advice on these support measures or about how to stay warm and well during cold weather, further information can be found on:

• The Met Office websites on how to get your home and property winter ready and keeping your home warm this winter
• GOV.UK website on help for households
• Age UK’s website or call 0800 169 6565 and quote ‘WINTER’
• The Herts and West Essex NHS winter health and wellbeing hub

Warm places

Warm places are places providing people with respect, support and warmth.

• Find a warm welcome at one of our many sites across the Epping Forest district

Cold weather can have a serious impact on health

"During periods like this, it is important to check in on family, friends and relatives who may be more vulnerable to the cold weather, as it can have a serious impact on health.

"Keep in touch with others and ask if they need any practical help such as stocking up on food and medicine. If you’re worried about someone else’s health, contact your local pharmacist, your GP or NHS 111 for advice and support."

Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA