Along with our other local health partners, we would like to give you some top tips for keeping warm and well during the winter.
Here is a useful information leaflet: Keep Warm Keep Well leaflet (2mb)
Here are some other useful tips...
- Make sure you claim all the financial support you can to help with heating bills. There are grants, benefits and advice available to make your heating more efficient. The free national "Home Heat" helpline offers access to grants for free home insulation, reduced tariffs from energy suppliers and advice on managing bills. Telephone 0800 336699 (9am-8pm, Monday-Friday and 10am-2pm Saturday,Minicom 0800 027 2122 or visit: www.homeheathelpline.org.uk
- Keep warm. By setting your heating to the right temperature (18-21 degrees centigrade or 64-70 degrees Fahrenheit), you can keep your home warm and your bills as low as possible.
- Food is a vital source of energy which helps keep your body warm. Try to make sure that you have hot meals and drinks regularly throughout the day.
- Get your flu jab if you are aged 65 years or over, pregnant, have certain medical conditions, live in a residential or nursing home or are the main carer for an older or disabled person.
- Look after yourself and check on older neighbours and relatives to make sure they are safe, warm and well. Wear layers of clothes and wear shoes with a grippy sole if you need to go outside.
- Keep a mixture of salt and sand handy to put on steps or paths in icy weather.
- Have your heating and cooking appliances checked and make sure your smoke alarm is working. Carbon monoxide is a killer.