As another round of Swine Flu beckons and temperatures are forcasted to plummet this winter, it is time to start thinking about protecting yourself and family from the cold. Excess winter deaths remain a big public health issue in the UK. Every winter in the UK, 25-30,000 deaths are linked to the cold weather. These deaths are easily preventable.
When the weather gets cold, body temperatures drop and it becomes easier for people to catch respiratory illnesses like pneumonia. Risk of circulatory diseases such as stroke and coronary heart disease are also increased. Excess winter deaths are higher in years of flu epidemics. All age groups are affected but particularly the elderly. Those aged over 85 years are at most risk. The UK may have milder winters compared to Scandinavian countries but it has more excess winter deaths. This is linked to thermal deficiency due to poor housing. Insulation is a problem with UK housing, including some new builds. But if you spend a bit of money on your insulation, you not only improve your indoor temperatures during winter but you protect yourself against summer heat gain. It also reduces carbon dioxide emissions so you help the environment as well.
If you want to protect yourself and your family, you need to heat your house. If you spend 10% or more of your household income to heat your house, then you are suffering from fuel poverty. Currently, more than three million households in the UK are in fuel poverty. Help and support is available. For the past few years, the NHS 'Keep Warm, Keep Well' campaign was been supporting people who are must vulnerable to the cold, for example, those over the age of 60 years and people with learning or physical disabilities. A fantastic element of this campaign is the free 'Winter Warmth Advice Line', 0800 085 7000, 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday. This provides information on everything to do with keeping warm over the winter months from how to heat a home effectively to getting help with fuel bills. People over the age of 60 could be entitled to winter fuel payments of up to 400 pounds and cold weather payments of 25 pounds per week if the weather is below freezing in your area. If you have an elderly relative or neighbour, make sure that they are warm this winter and that they know what help is available to them. For those who may need help paying for heating and insulation improvements in your privately owned or rented home, you may be able to get money from the government's Warm Front grants scheme.
If you're a 'Do-It-Yourself' type (or a student in a dodgy cheap flat), then try out my top ten tips to keeping warm this winter:
1. If you have central heating, keep the thermostat at 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit) and heat the rooms you are in. If your heater is on an outer wall, stick foil behind it to prevent heat escaping through the outer wall.
2. Eat at least one hot meal a day.
3. Sip hot drinks throughout the day and before going to bed.
4. Wear several layers of thin clothing on top of each other instead of one thick jumper or jacket. Remove or add a layer according to the temperature of the room.
5. Choose wool, cotton or light fleecy clothes.
6. Wear a hat or cap when you go outside to prevent heat from escaping from your head.
7. Wear warm, dry, flat shoes or boots. The soles should not be smooth so you can't slip when it's icy.
8. Keep moving as gentle exercise makes you warm. If you have difficulty moving, try moving your arms.
9. Close curtains at night to keep heat in. When heating a room, close doors and windows to prevent heat from escaping (and wasting money).
10. Heat your bedroom before going to bed at night and keep the temperature at 18 degrees Celsius throughout the night. When it's very cold, wear extra clothes like woolly socks and thermal underwear. Use an electric blanket or hot water but not both together.