Hot and cold weather

Cold weather advice

Follow these tips to keep you and your family warm and well in extremely cold weather:

  • Keep curtains drawn and doors closed to block out draughts.
  • Have regular hot drinks and at least one hot meal a day if possible. Eating regularly helps keep energy levels up during winter.
  • Wear several light layers of warm clothes (rather than one chunky layer).
  • Keep as active as possible.
  • Wrap up warm if you need to go outside on cold days.
  • Keep your main living room at around 18- 21°C (64-70°F) and the rest of the house at least 16°C (61°F).  If you can’t heat all the rooms you use, heat the living room during the day and the bedroom just before you go to sleep.

Icy conditions

Icy pavements and roads can be very slippery. Take extra care if you go out and wear boots or shoes with good grip on the soles.

The Met Office advises putting grit or cat litter on paths and driveways to lessen the risk of slipping. It adds that you should wait until the roads have been gritted if you're travelling by car. 

The Highways Agency offers useful advice on travelling in snow and freezing conditions.

Direct Gov gives advice on clearing icy pavements

Please remember that black ice on pavements or roads might not be clearly visible, and that compacted snow may turn to ice and become slippery.

Weather warnings

Visit the Met Office website for the latest weather warnings. www.metoffice.gov.uk.

Look out for others

Check up on friends, relatives and neighbours who may be more vulnerable to cold weather. Cold weather is especially dangerous for older people or people with serious illnesses, so check up on them if you can.

People with heart or respiratory (breathing) problems may find their symptoms get worse during a cold spell and for several days after temperatures return to normal.

Hot weather advice

The Met Office, in association with the Department of Health, operates a Heat-Health Watch system in England and Wales from 1 June to 15 September each year.

Heatwaves can be dangerous, especially for the elderly, those with chronic diseases and the very young. Advice on how to reduce the risk, either for yourself or somebody you know, is available from NHS Direct or your local GP or pharmacist. 

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