Be safe this season
It may be cold outside but winter needn’t be the least safe time of
year for you and your family.
This leaflet provides information to help you plan ahead and prepare
for winter. For further information and to download copies of this
booklet please visit www.wakefield.gov.uk/seasonalhealth.
n Preparing for winter
n Stocking up on medicines
n Keeping you warm
n Keeping your home warm
n Flu jab
n Be antibiotics aware
n Is A&E for me?
Preparing for winter
Top tips to help you prepare for the winter months,
item as you prepare for the cold weather.
✔ tick each
n
Stock up your cupboards with food and household items - stock up on
nutritional foods that keep, e.g. tins of fruit, fish, vegetables, soups, stews, pulses,
pasta, rice, cereals, long life milk/juice. It’s a good idea to keep a spare loaf of
bread in the freezer as a reserve. Make sure that food/drink with a short shelf life
is used first and regularly replenished. Don’t consume food/drink that has passed
its ‘use by’ date, throw them away. If you’re checking on a neighbour/relative look in their fridge, they may need food bringing but be too proud to ask for help
Prepare for travelling by car in extreme weather - for peace of mind carry an
emergency kit to include ice scraper, de-icer, torch, spare batteries, warm clothes,
blanket, boots, first aid kit, jump leads, food, warm drink in a flask, shovel,
reflective warning sign, sunglasses and a fully charged mobile phone, but do not
rely on this solely as chances are you will get stuck in a place where there is
limited or no signal.
Clear your paths of snow/ice with sand or salt - if you can’t do it yourself ask
a friend, neighbour, or family member. When clearing the paths use salt or sand,
NOT water. Take care where you move the snow.
Plan ahead - plan ahead and follow weather forecasts/warnings. If extreme
weather is predicted, avoid going out. Avoid risking your health and wellbeing for
unnecessary journeys.
Top up your credits and payment cards - you’ll use more energy in winter, so
make sure you have credit on your payment cards or tokens. Top up your mobile
phone credit. If you use LPG or oil as a main energy source remember to check
you have sufficient supplies.
Emergency contacts and pendants - add useful contact numbers to your mobile
phone in case of emergencies. Add your next of kin’s number to your mobile
phone under the heading ‘ICE’ - In Case of Emergency. If you are involved in an
accident, emergency services will use it to contact your relative. If you have an
emergency pendant remember to wear it.
If you don’t have a mobile phone it’s a good idea to have a list of emergency
numbers next to the phone, including your next
of kin.
Stock up on your medicines - if you take regular medication, order a new supply
from your GP when you are down to the last seven days’ supply. Most pharmacies
can collect your prescription from your GP
You can also help yourself by keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet
and first aid box, to deal with day-to-day illness and injury. Some key
items to keep in your medicine cabinet and first aid box are listed below.
• Pain relief such as paracetamol and aspirin (aspirin should not be given to children under 16 or to people with asthma)
• Paediatric paracetamol oral suspension or ibuprofen syrups for children
• Mild laxatives to relieve constipation
• Cold relief products
• Rehydration mixtures for diarrhoea or vomiting to use if feeling dehydrated after a bout of sickness or diarrhoea
• Indigestion remedy
• Travel sickness tablets for family trips
• Tweezers and sharp scissors to remove splinters and cut bandages
• A thermometer to check for fever
• A range of bandages, plasters, non-absorbent cotton wool, elastic bandages and dressings forminor cuts, sprains and bruises.
Always follow the advice of the pharmacist, doctor or nurse that provides
you with prescribed medicines and those bought over-the-counter. Read the
instructions and never go over the suggested dose.
Don’t forget - Check festive opening hours
Make sure that you order any repeat prescriptions you need ahead of your GP practice
closing for the festive period and make a note of the opening times of your local
pharmacy and shops.
Making sure you have enough medicines to see you through the holiday period until GP
surgeries re-open can not only make a difference to your health but it can also ensure
doctors are not called out unnecessarily or that people are not heading to A&E when they
don’t need to.
Keeping you warm
One of the best ways to stay well this winter is to keep warm.
Keeping warm over the winter months can help prevent colds, flu
or more serious health conditions such as heart attacks, strokes,
pneumonia and depression.
Some key tips for keeping warm include:
• Use heating gadgets. You can use a hot-water
bottle or electric blanket (but not both at the same
time) to keep warm while you're in bed.
• Eat well. Food is a vital source of energy, which
helps to keep your body warm. Try to make sure that you have hot meals and drinks
regularly throughout the day.
• Wrap up warm, inside and out. Several thin layers
of clothing will keep you warmer than one thick
layer, shawls or blankets will provide warmth
when sitting. Always wear gloves, hat and shoes
with a good grip if you need to go outside. If
you have heart or breathing/lung problems stay
indoors during the extreme cold weather.
• Keep active round the house. This will help to keep your joints moving, and keep you warm.
• Check on others. If you are fit and well yourself,
spare the time to check in on relatives/
neighbours. Often they can be too proud to ask
for help, if they are sitting in a cold room with lots
of blankets and still cold - they may not have their
heating on.
If you are worried about the safety or well-being of an adult at risk or older person please
contact Social Care Direct. They will deal with your concerns and offer advice and support
about what to do.
You can contact Social Care Direct by
Telephone: 0345 8 503 503
Minicom: 01924 303450 (type talk welcome)
Fax: 01924 303455
Email: [email protected]
Keeping your home warm
Cold homes can have a significant impact on people’s health.
Make sure that you keep your heating to the right temperature,
this should be set to a minimum 18°C. Heating your home to the
recommended temperature over the winter will reduce risk to
your health.
Home Energy Team
The council has a Home Energy Team who will be able to advise on saving energy and
possible schemes to help with installing energy efficiency improvement measures in your
home or the home of friends or relatives. When the householder is on a low income and is
elderly or has an illness made worse by the cold there may be additional help available.
If you are a member of a community group we are also able to attend a group session to
offer advice and give out energy saving devices and information.
Please contact [email protected] or 03449 020 222 for further information.
Health facts
• Internal temperatures that are lower than 16 degrees could make any breathing problems worse.
• Internal temperatures below 12 degrees place strain on the heart.
• Temperatures below 6 degrees place people at risk of hypothermia.
Cold weather is likely to have an impact on your health if you're vulnerable to
cold-related illnesses because of one or more of the following:
• you're over 65
• you're on a low income (so can't afford heating)
• you have a long-term health condition such as heart, lung or kidney disease
• you are disabled
Conditions that are not initially associated with the cold can also be affected by
low temperatures, these include:
• Diabetes
• Arthritis
• Conditions affecting mobility
Be flu-free this winter - get the flu jab
Don’t put off getting the flu vaccination; if you’re eligible get it now,
because you need it. If you have a long-term health condition, even one
that is well managed, or you are pregnant, you are at greater risk of severe
complications if you catch flu.
What is flu?
Flu is a highly infectious disease with symptoms that come on very suddenly. Colds
are much less serious and usually start gradually with a stuffy or runny nose and a
sore throat. A bad bout of flu can be much worse than a heavy cold. The most common
symptoms of flu are fever, chills, headache, aches and pains in the joints and muscles,
and extreme tiredness. In most cases, the symptoms are quite mild, but in others, they
can be very serious. Healthy individuals usually recover within two to seven days, but for
some the disease can lead to hospitalisation, permanent disability or even death.
Don’t wait until there’s a flu outbreak - if you’re eligible for the free flu jab contact your
GP or practice nurse today.
Who should have the flu jab?
Those recommended to have the flu jab are:
• everyone aged 65 and over
• everyone under 65 with a medical condition, listed below, including babies and children over six months of age
• all pregnant women, at any stage of pregnancy
• all two, three and four year old children
• all primary school children in years 1 and 2
• everyone living in a residential or nursing home
• everyone who cares for an older or disabled person
Medical conditions include:
• Chronic (long term) respiratory disease such as asthma
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchitis
• Chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
• Chronic neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease or motor neurone disease
• Diabetes
• People with problems with their spleen - for example, sickle cell disease, or have had their spleen removed
• People with a weakened immune system due to conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or as a result of medication such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
For advice and information about the flu vaccination, speak to your GP, practice nurse or
pharmacist.
Be antibiotics aware
Antibiotics are important medicines. They help fight infections that are
caused by bacteria. Antibiotic resistance (when an antibiotic is no longer
effective) is a major problem.
Antibiotic resistance is caused by overusing antibiotics and prescribing them
inappropriately. It's important that we use antibiotics the right way, to slow down
resistance and make sure these life-saving medicines remain effective for us and future
generations.
All colds and most coughs and sore throats are caused by viruses. Antibiotics do not
work against infections, such as colds, caused by viruses. The best way to treat most
colds, coughs or sore throats is to drink plenty of fluids and to rest. Colds can last
about two weeks and may end with a cough and bringing up phlegm. There are many
over the counter remedies to ease the symptoms – paracetamol, for example. Ask your
pharmacist for advice.
Further information can be found on the following website: www.nhs.uk/antibiotics
Coughs and sneezes spread diseases
If you do get a cold or cough this winter, or worse get the flu, remember
these three simple things to help stop it spreading to others;
Catch it,
Bin it,
Kill it.
Is A&E for me?
Unexpected
Sickness
Severe pain
Worsening health
conditions
Hangover
Grazed knee
Sore throat
Diarrhoea
Runny nose
Painful cough
Headache
Cuts
Stomach ache
Back ache
Call 111
For accidents and unexpected health
problems call 111. A free to call
number available 24 hours a day. 365 days a year.
When & why?
111 is a free number to call and is a fast
and easy way for people to get the right
help. Whatever their health needs and
whatever the time of day or night.
Self care
A lot of illnesses can be treated at
home by keeping a well-stocked
medicine cabinet and by getting
plenty of rest. For further information
visit NHS choices.
When & why?
Self care is the best way to treat very
minor illnesses and injuries. Choosing
well ensures you receive the best possible
treatment, leaving emergency services to
those who need them most.
Pharmacist (chemist)
Your pharmacist is a highly trained
healthcare professional and can give
you advice on common illnesses
and the medicines you need to treat
them. Most now have a quiet area
away from other customers where
you can speak to the pharmacist
more privately.
When & why?
Visit your pharmacy when you are suffering
from a common health problem which does
not require being seen by a nurse or doctor.
Choosing well ensures you receive the best
possible treatment, leaving emergency
services to those who need them most.
GP ( Doctor)
Most GPs have some early morning,
later evening or Saturday openings.
Check with your local practice for up
to date opening times.
When & why?
Make an appointment with your GP when
you have an illness or injury that will not go
away. Out-of-hours medical assessment is
also available. Choosing well ensures you
receive the best possible treatment, leaving
emergency services to those who need them
most.
Cuts
Strains
Rashes
Sprains
When & why?
NHS Walk-in Centre
Visit your pharmacy when you are suffering
The walk in centre on King Street
from a common health problem which does
8pm
to
8am
open
in Wakefield is
not require being seen by a nurse or doctor.
tment
seven days a week. No appoin
Choosing well ensures you receive the best
necessary.
possible treatment, leaving emergency
services to those who need them most.
Know your local GP and pharmacy number.
See www.nhs.uk for services near you.
Write it here
142302 Designed and produced by Wakefield Council, Communications 10/15
Choose the right sort of care for your symptoms - and help others who don’t know what
to do. This can help you get the right care, get better faster and reduce needless visits to
busy A&E departments.
Local healthcare options include, self care, 111 helpline, Pharmacist, GP, Walk-in-centre,
A&E or 999.