Anyone over the age of 65 is being urged to make a heating change this winter to stay warm and fend off winter illnesses.
The Met Office is urging households to prepare for winter weather as multiple snow and ice warnings have been issued across the UK. An amber warning for snow is currently in force until 9pm on Thursday, affecting parts of North East England and Yorkshire and the Humber, where up to 25cm of snow is forecast to fall on higher levels. Several yellow warnings for snow and ice have also been issued, with people warned to brace for hazardous driving conditions and freezing temperatures. The weather warnings coincide with an amber cold health alert from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) which is in force until 8am on Saturday, November 22, affecting North East England, North West England, and Yorkshire and the Humber.
To help protect against the freezing weather, Met Office advice recommends that anyone over the age of 65 set their heating to a minimum of 18C.
Households are urged to keep their thermostat set to at least this temperature at all times, both during the day and at night, during bouts of cold and snowy weather.
Windows should also be kept closed overnight to help retain warmth indoors and drawing your curtains at dusk will also help to keep the heat generated inside your rooms.
In its winter advice, the Met Office says: “The cold thickens blood and increases blood pressure, and breathing in cold air can increase the risk of chest infections. So it’s all the more important to ensure your home and the homes of people you look out for are the right temperature.
“Ideally you should heat your home to a temperature of at least 18 °C. This is particularly important if you have reduced mobility, are 65 or over, or have a health condition, such as heart or lung disease. Having room temperatures slightly over 18 °C could be good for your health.
“If you are under the age of 65, active and wearing appropriate clothing, you may wish to keep your home at a comfortable temperature even if it is slightly lower than 18°C.
“Overnight, people who are 65 and over or who have pre-existing health conditions may find bedroom temperatures of at least 18 °C are good for their health; this may be less important if you are a healthy adult under 65 and have appropriate clothing and bedding.
“It is important to keep your bedroom window closed at night when the weather is cold.”
Met Office advice also recommends staying active during bouts of cold weather – even if you are stuck inside due to snow and ice – as this will help your body to keep warm, and stave off winter illnesses like colds, flu and more serious health problems.
The forecaster says you should aim to get up and walk around at least once every hour, and make sure you eat at least one hot meal per day, alongside regular hot drinks, to help your body to stay warm in cold conditions.
If you do head outside in cold weather, NHS advice suggests wearing a scarf over your mouth like a face mask to help protect against the cold. Using a scarf like a face mask allows air to warm up before it is breathed in, helping to reduce the risk of asthma symptoms being triggered.
