Looking out for others during the cold weather
Brrrr! The temperatures have dropped over Suffolk and the UK this week!
As always in the health and first aid world, prevention is always better than intervention, so here are some top tips to stay well over Winter!
Injury Prevention:
Wet leaves, ice and frozen mornings can lead to slippery surfaces and slips, trips and falls -
Shoes/boots with good soles can provide extra grip
Think about some areas you may require an extra grab rail - particularly of you have stairs leading to and from your house or place of work
Illness Prevention:
Don’t forget to book your annual Flu vaccination, and also COVID and RSV vaccinations. These are normally accessed via your local GP or Pharmacy.
Local Vaccination walk in clinics are also available. More information for those taking place across Suffolk and North East Essex here
Keeping Warm:
Maintaining your home and workplace at a comfortable temperature can help keep you well and prevent any long term conditions (such as Asthma, Diabetes, Heart Problems) from worsening
From a Health and Safety perspective, ensuring that your boiler and other appliances have been serviced is essential.
All the local councils have information and support on energy costs and related benefits available. Please see some useful links below:
Wear Layers:
Layers trap air between them and help you to stay warm. Wrap up when going out and wear thicker/warmer clothing and socks overnight.
Hand washing:
Regular hand washing stops the spread of germs. If you or others are unwell try and avoid close contact
Stocking Up:
It a good idea to have a stock of over the counter medicines in your cupboards. These can be useful for treating sore throats, colds and coughs. Tissues are essential as well! Pre-making meals and having a stock of food in the cupboards are not only a great way of supporting a healthy diet and keeping illness at bay, but are important when the weather prevents us from getting out and about.
And finally, remember to look out for others - your friends, families and neighbours. Cold weather can be isolating - check in on people and offer help where you can.