Keeping warm in Winter

We try to ensure people seek appropriate advice on keeping warm in their homes through the winter as the cold weather can present problems unless the correct precautions are taken.

We are more likely to catch a cold or flu during winter and can often be affected by a low mood, or ‘winter blues’. However, cold weather can also cause more serious health problems like pneumonia or the aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

The NHS Winter Health service advises to keep your main living room during the day, and your bedroom at night, heated between 18-21°C (64-70°F) with the rest of the house at least 16°C (61°F) if possible, to avoid risk to your health.

If you are struggling to pay your heating bills this winter there are schemes in place to help the most vulnerable, such as Cold Weather Payments, Winter Fuel Payments or the Warm Front Scheme. For more information and to see if you might be eligible for such help please visit the Direct Gov public service website.

In the long term, there are improvements you can make to your home to reduce your fuel bills and keep you warm through the winter months, such as loft or wall insulation or installing double glazing.  There is a variety of help on offer to aid you in doing this; for more information you can visit the Energy Saving Trust website or call their advice centre on 0800 512 012.

Alternatively, refer to the Wirral Council energy efficiency page to see the help offered in our area. There are some simple things you can do to keep warm and stay healthy in the winter months, and many of them cost little to nothing, so here are our top tips for keeping warm this winter:

• Stay active! If you keep moving through the colder months then it not only helps your general fitness, it also generates warmth;
• Wear the right sort of clothes - several thin layers on top of each other hold warm air; a much more efficient way of keeping warm than one thick jumper;
• Natural fibres - wool or cotton - keep you warm, and light fleecy clothes are also a good choice;
• Your body cools as you sleep - keep warm in bed on really cold nights by wearing woolly socks or even a hat and perhaps thermal underwear under your nightdress or pyjamas;
• Don’t forget to wear hats, scarves and gloves outdoors whenever possible; they will help you to block out the low temperatures;
• Fleecy insoles in your shoes or boots will help to keep your feet warm. If you stick to flat shoes or boots with textured soles, you won’t slip when it’s icy;
• You'll feel the cold more if you get wet, so put on a waterproof top layer if it's raining;
• Draw your curtains, as soon as it gets dark to stop the heat escaping and the draughts coming in;
• Keep any windows and internal doors closed when it’s cold – this will keep heat inside, where you most need it.