Are you winter ready graphic checklist

Are you winter ready?

The NHS is here to help when you need it, but you can make sure you are winter ready by knowing when you can care for yourself and your family and what support is available.

The winter months can be challenging for many Surrey residents, and add more pressure to NHS services during periods of extreme weather. Cold weather can make some health problems worse and even lead to serious complications, especially for those aged 65 and over, or if you have a long-term health condition. Even for those in full health, winter can bring with it coughs, colds and flu bugs.

  1. Vaccinations
  2. Get the right care and support
  3. Pharmacies
  4. Self care
  5. Support for carers
  6. Mental Health

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Look in on vulnerable neighbours and relatives

Check on older neighbours and relatives, and those with heart or breathing (respiratory) problems, to make sure they:

  • Are safe and well.
  • Are warm enough, especially at night.
  • Have stocks of food and medicines so they do not need to go out during very cold weather.
  • Are wearing shoes with good grip to prevent trips and fall.
  • Wrap up in warm clothes if going outside. Wearing a scarf over their mouth, will protect cold air getting into their lungs.

If you're worried about older or vulnerable family members, friends or neighbours contact:

If they get support from Adult Social Care, they must let their team know if they are going into hospital. This means that they know where you are if there's a winter emergency.

You can also call the Age UK helpline on 0800 678 1602 (8am to 7pm every day) for help and support.

If you are concerned that the person may be suffering from hypothermia, contact NHS 111.

Top tips for keeping warm and well this winter.

Keep your home warm

Tips to keep warm

Follow these tips to keep you and your family warm and well at home.

  • If you are not very mobile, are 65 or over, or have a health condition, such as heart or lung disease, heat your home to at least 18C.
  • Keep your bedroom at 18C all night if you can. Keep your bedroom window closed.
  • If you are under 65, healthy and active, you can safely have your home cooler than 18C, as long as you're comfortable.
  • Use a hot water bottle or electric blanket to keep warm in bed – but do not use both at the same time.
  • Have at least one hot meal a day. Eating regularly helps keep you warm have hot drinks regularly to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), babies should sleep in rooms heated to between 16C and 20C.
  • Draw curtains at dusk and keep doors closed to block out draughts.
  • Get your heating system checked regularly by a qualified professional.

Heating

If you are worrying about the cost of putting the heating on, find out about help available.

Age UK Surrey has advice on  staying warm and healthy | Age UK  during the cold weather.

Action Surrey for grants to make homes more energy efficient

Surrey County Council Welfare Hub

The Welfare Hub includes information on:

Sign up to warnings and alerts

Getting an early warning and staying informed can make a huge difference in your response to an incident. There are several free services that you can sign up to.

Cold health alerts

Sign up for the free Cold Health Alerts | Met Office.

Severe weather warnings

Get severe weather warnings and sign up to  Met Office alerts | Met Office

Flooding alerts

Check your flood risk and sign up to  Environment Agency alerts  online or by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188 (24 hour service). The type talk number for this service is 0345 602 6340.

Food supplies

It is advisable to keep stocks of dried milk and canned foods in the house during winter in case of a prolonged spell of bad weather or if you are at risk of flooding.

Priority Services Register

The Priority Services Register is a free support service that makes sure extra help is available to people in vulnerable situations.

You can sign up for the Priority Services Register if you or someone you know is:

  • of pensionable age
  • has a long-term medical condition
  • has a disability
  • has children under the age of 5.

From keeping water running for drinking and washing hands, to charging medical equipment or mobility scooter's, to staying warm, it's vital to keep utilities going in the event of a problem with your gas, electricity or water supply.

The Priority Services Register can help you do this. 

As well as help in an emergency, there are other benefits to being on a Priority Services Register including advance notice of planned power cuts or interruptions to water supply, help with accessing prepayment meters, receiving bills in an alternative format and more.

To sign, you need to contact your utility providers. It is free and can help you or a loved one to stay safe, warm and independent in their own home.

Priority Services Register

Financial support

There are grants, benefits and sources of advice available to make your home more energy efficient, improve your heating or help with bills. There are also support measures in place to help with the cost of living.

For further advice on these support measures, see the Health and welfare support page on the Surrey County Council website.

Local health and welfare support

Surrey County Council have produced a directory of support (surreycc.gov.uk) which provides details on financial, health or general welfare information for local residents.

Action Surrey (actionsurrey.org) provide information and advice on how to keep a home warm and any grants that may be available for replacement boilers and insulation.

You may be eligible for some payments available from the government, such as the winter fuel payment (gov.uk) and cold weather payment (gov.uk).

Age UK Surrey provide information to help people stay safe, warm and well (ageuk.org.uk) in the winter. This includes money saving tips and further advice on benefits and grants, advocacy and counselling.