Keep warm at home
Living in a cold or damp home can be bad for your physical and mental health.
It can worsen a range of health conditions like heart disease, asthma and breathing issues. It can also increase your chance of falls, getting colds, flu and pneumonia.
Here are some tips to keep warm and well at home:
Keep warm
- Heat your home to at least 18 degrees.
- Stay active and move around the house every hour.
- Wrap up warm with lots of layers.
- Have hot drinks and meals.
- Use hot water bottles or electric blankets (not together).
- Get heating and cooking appliances serviced.
- Sign up to the Priority Services Register for extra help from your energy or water company. This includes notice of planned cuts and priority in an emergency.
- Sign up to cold alerts for advance warnings of severe cold weather, ice and snow to help you prepare.
Keep well
- Stock up on food and medicines before cold weather.
- Get vaccinated. Some are done each year like flu and covid and others at certain ages and stages of life.
- Maintain good hand hygiene.
- Keep an eye out for damp and mould.
- Make sure your house is well-ventilated.