Cold weather advice and tips
Distinguished • February 13, 2023
Fortunately, the UK doesn't experience particularly awful weather all that frequently. But if we're warned to expect extreme weather, particularly winter storms, ice, or snow, it's worth making sure you're ready.
Simple measures to combat the cold in the UK...
- Keep an eye on the weather forecast. Download the Met Office App for up-to-date weather forecasts at your fingertips.
- If bad weather is forecast, make sure you have everything you need. Check you've got enough medication and food in case it's harder to leave the house. A bottle of water could be handy if the water supply is interrupted.
- Have torches handy around the home in case of a power cut. It's a good idea to keep some spare batteries somewhere convenient, too.
- Keep emergency numbers nearby. Call 105 in the event of a power cut – you can report a power cut and get information and advice if there's one in your area. You can also register with your supplier's Priority Services Register so they'll call you in the event of a power cut.
- Take extra care if the ground is slippery. Wear shoes with good grip and consider keeping salt and sand mixture handy to grit paths. You could ask your neighbours for help to clear paths or driveways in bad weather – most people are more than happy to help.
- Plan ahead when driving. Try to avoid going out in the car in bad weather if possible, and make sure you follow advice on driving conditions near you. If you do need to go out, pack up the following kit in case you get stuck: blankets, a bottle of water or flask of hot drink, some snacks, a shovel, a de-icer or scraper, a mobile phone and charger.
Look out for cold weather alerts in England
Cold weather alerts from the Met Office provide advance notice of impending cold weather conditions, allowing you to take extra safety measures to stay healthy and safe. From November 1 to March 31 each year, they are in operation in England in collaboration with the UK Health Security Agency.
When winter weather is most likely to have a substantial negative impact on people's health, the Met Office issues cold weather advisories. Consequently, when one of the following occurs:
- The average temperature falls below 2°C for 48 hours or longer.
- There's heavy snow and/or widespread ice.
You can find the alerts on the Met Office website and the weather warnings on their Twitter feed and on TV and radio.
All people should avoid excessive heat. Being older or having health issues makes it extremely riskier. When you are hot, you should take precautions and seek help right away. If you don't, you can feel sick or risk contracting a disease brought on by the heat that might be very harmful to your health.
Long before a baby utters its first word, they have their first laugh. Laughter is a universal language on its own that every age, country, and culture knows and appreciates. But laughter doesn’t just feel good in the moment; there are actually short and long-term health and spiritual benefits of laughter, too.
Care services at home aren’t usually free. How much you need to pay for homecare depends on a number of factors, including your income and savings. Find out how to arrange homecare, how much you may have to pay, and what financial support is available.
We are more susceptible to developing type 2 diabetes as we age. There are already 1 in 7 elderly persons who have diabetes, and this figure is expected to climb.
Getting your flu vaccination is a very important way to help protect your health during the winter – and if you're 65 or over you can get it for free.
Being warm throughout the winter is especially crucial as we age because our bodies change and we become more susceptible to the effects of cold weather and winter pests. Fortunately, there are steps you may do to ensure your health and warmth.
We all want to stay healthy and active in later life, so we must keep fit mentally as well as physically. Increasingly, we’re learning what we can do to keep our thinking skills sharp as we age.
It is helpful to know what kinds of adjustments you could make to your home, whether you need to do so right now or are just planning forward. It must function for you because, after all, it is your home.
Can my parent live alone with Dementia? Do we need Home Care?
When you are dealing with an early dementia diagnosis for yourself or a person you live with or care for, there are many things to consider. How to manage the home and make it as dementia friendly as possible is one of those – we understand how scary and upsetting dealing with a dementia diagnosis can be, so we have put together our top tips for keeping the home safe, accessible and dementia friendly.
