Each winter hundreds of people die unnecessarily because of cold weather. They’re victims of hypothermia - a condition which sets in when the deep body temperature falls to 950F or below.

Those most vulnerable are the elderly and the very young. Infants in particular can be affected if they’re changed, bathed, or left in cold surroundings.

But hypothermia isn’t the only danger. Cold weather also makes people, especially older people, more vulnerable to heart attacks, strokes, and pneumonia. To help protect against these, you should keep your home warm, dress properly, and eat well.

A Warm Home

Try to keep the temperature in the room(s) you use as close to 70F (22C) as possible, and not lower than 65F (19C).

Try to eliminate draughts, but do make sure there’s adequate ventilation to prevent condensation. Check for rising damp, faulty pipes and gutters, leaky external walls and have them repaired.

If you need advice, contact Social Services, Age Concern, or any of the Home Improvement Agencies listed. Check that heating appliances are economical, safe, easy to use, and give out enough heat.

Service your electric blankets as regularly as the manufacturers advise. But never use an electric blanket with a hot water bottle, or for a person that is incontinent.

If fuel bills are a worry, you could move your bed into the living room and keep just that room warm.

Dress

When it’s cold, it’s very important to dress warmly, and to protect (in particular) your head, hands and feet. Several layers of light clothing made from natural fibres, cotton or wool, for example, will help trap your body heat more effectively than a few layers of heavy clothing.

Wear gloves, a couple of pairs of socks, a scarf, and a hat (even indoors!) as 20% of the body’s heat is lost through the head. You may think you look silly, but at least you’ll be warm.

Dress well in bed too. Wear socks, a dressing gown, gloves, and most important of all, a night cap. Duvets keep the heat in better than conventional blankets.

Diet

The body needs proper fuel to protect its ‘thermostat’, and an ideal diet should include protein foods such as meat, fish, eggs, and cheese, plus green vegetables and potatoes.

Porridge makes a good start to the day. Try to arrange frequent small meals including at least one hot meal every day. The Women’s Royal Voluntary Service (WVRS) operates a Meals on Wheels service throughout mot of the area, and you can be referred to them by your doctor, by Social Services, or by one of the other caring agencies.

You can get information about Lunch Clubs and Drop-In Centres by contacting Social Services offices or Age Concern.

Take hot drinks regularly throughout the day, they’re good for maintaining the body temperature. Hot soups are also very good, as are complete ‘meals in drink’ such as Complan.

Keep a flask with a hot drink by bed at night. Before the cold weather arrives, try to build a stock of items such as tinned fish in oil, tinned fruit and vegetables, long life milk, cracker biscuits and tinned meat and pies.

Buying one item a week will help spread the cost. If your budget is small, vitamin pills, food supplements, and soups can be useful.

Exercise

One of the best ways to keep warm is to exercise. It stimulates circulation and keeps the blood flowing to all parts of the body. If at all possible, go for a walk outside everyday, even if it’s just around the block or down to the local shop.

If you do have to stay inside, try not to spend all day sitting down. Just walking around the living room every now and again will prevent the joints and the muscles from stiffening up, and will keep you warmer.

Going out?

Wear warm clothing and take special care to keep your head, hands and feet warm. Wear a windproof and waterproof outer layer, and thick waterproof shoes or boots.

It’s very important to keep dry, because you lose far more heat when the body is wet. If you’re going some distance, always take a change of clothing.

Take nuts, raisins, chocolate, or other high carbohydrate snacks - they provide calories for heat production. Drink liquids to keep a balance fluid level, but avoid alcohol.

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