Keeping Warm and Well This Winter - Top Tips

Heat your Home Well

Ideally the temperature in your home should be 18-21°C. Keep it insulated by having doors and windows closed; use draught excluders and thick curtains;

let the sunlight in during the day and shut up unused rooms.

For more information and advice on how to keep your home warm, see

Affordable Warmth for You on the following website link:

www.cumbriaaction.org.uk/ResourcesPublications/RuralBriefings

or call 01228 817224.

The free Home Heat Helpline advises people worried about paying their

energy bills and keeping warm during the winter. It also gives advice to low income

households in urgent need of heating help and advice.

Call 0800 33 66 99 or visit

www.homeheathelpline.org.uk for more information.

Eat Well, Keep Active and Look After Yourself

It is advisable to keep active - this will get your circulation going and make you

feel warmer. You should also make sure that you dress warmly - ideally with

several layers of thin clothing. Ensure you have regular hot meals and drinks

to give you warmth and energy.

For information on community meals in Cumbria contact NCI Helpline on

0844 9671885 or by email at info@ncip.org.uk.

Get Financial Support

If you were born on or before 5 July 1952 you can claim the Winter Fuel

payment. You may be entitled to other benefits and grants. Citizens Advice

can offer advice on benefits, debt, and other issues.

Find contact details for your local Citizens Advice Bureau at:

www.citizensadvice.org.uk or call 03444 111444.

The Winter Warmth Fund through Cumbria Community Foundation helps

older people in Cumbria stay warm and healthy.

You can apply for the fund if you are over 60, live in Cumbria, and receive

• State pension and/or Pension Credit, or

• Struggle to maintain a basic acceptable standard of living during the winter

due to the cost of heating your home and the restrictions of cold weather

The normal grant is £125 or £250 in exceptional circumstances.

If you would like to apply to this fund please contact one of the following:

• Age UK South Lakeland: Dave Thomson 01539 728180

• The Oaklea Trust (Barrow): Rebekah Beavis 01539 735025

For more about the Winter Warmth Fund please contact Annalee Holliday at the Cumbria Community Foundation on 01900 825760 or annalee@cumbriafoundation.org or www.cumbriafoundation.org

Stay in Touch Through Library Service

The Home Delivery Service is for people who are unable to visit the library

because of mobility problems or ill health and who have no one who can go

to the library on their behalf. Contact your local library.

www.cumbria.gov.uk/libraries/specialservices/sscontacts.asp

FREE equipment to keep warm - Age UK Barrow

Keep Warm Keep Well information booklet

NHS puts preparations in place to deal with winter pressures

As the weather gets colder, it is important to remember the needs of friends, elderly relatives and neighbours who could be at risk. The Department of Health has issued some guidance today for how to help.

Official figures from the Office of National Statistics today demonstrate the deadly impact that cold weather can have, especially on older people during winter. They show that, last year, there were an estimated 25,400 excess deaths mostly linked to circulatory and respiratory diseases.

Following a few basic principles can make a big difference to the safety and wellbeing of those at risk.

Measures such as:
* checking on them to make sure they are safe and well;
* making sure they're warm enough, especially at night; and
* stocking up on food and medicines.

Public Health Minister Anne Milton said "The reduction in excess winter deaths last year is to be welcomed. We want to ensure that the NHS and the public are equally well prepared this year.

"We are working across Government on our cold weather plans. They are supported by our pledge to retain the winter fuel allowance, which will help people to keep homes warm. And we have turned the temporary increase in the Cold Weather Payments introduced by the last government, into a permanent increase.

"Information to help vulnerable people keep warm and keep well, will be made available to GP surgeries and local organisations.

"The elderly, and those who are ill, are particularly vulnerable during cold weather. We all have a role to play in remembering the needs of friends, relatives and neighbours who could be at risk especially at this time of year".

The Department of Health has also made leaflets and posters giving advice on how to keep warm and well available for download for NHS and local organisations from here http://tinyurl.com/396d43f

For those who do need medical attention, the NHS is well prepared. There is always more pressure on the NHS at this time of year and this year will be no different. It deals with rises in slips, trips and falls, increases in admissions due to flu and other health problems associated with the colder weather and the winter vomiting bug noro-virus.

The routine preparations have seen each local area put escalation procedures in place for:
* greater bed capacity at peak times;

* better transfers of patients between ambulance and hospital;
* heightened operational readiness; and
* enhanced out of hours arrangements.

Commenting on the specific challenges the NHS faces at this time of year Health Minister Simon Burns said: "Every year, there is extra pressure on NHS services over the winter months. That's why we've asked the NHS to put plans in place to help mitigate the risks of a surge in demand.

"Across the country, our staff are already working hard and doing great work to respond to this extra demand and I am very grateful for all their continued efforts.

"Always dial '999' in an emergency. But if you do not have an emergency, it may be more appropriate to contact your GP, NHS Direct or your pharmacy."

Keep Warm Keep Well