Stay Well This Winter

28th November 2017

Stockport is expected to be hit by its first bout of icy, winter weather as temperatures in the region plummet.

The Met office is forecasting severe cold weather, with temperatures below 2C, and overnight frosts this week leading to dangerous icy roads and pavements.

NHS staff are gearing up for a dramatic increase in visits to GP practices and A&E due to falls, flu and other winter health problems.

Health experts are asking people to help by doing more to look after themselves – like having your flu jab if you’re entitled to one – and keep a close eye on vulnerable neighbours, family and friends.

Residents are being urged to stock up on medicine cabinet essentials so they can deal with common ailments themselves without the need for a trip to the doctors.

Your local pharmacist can give you advice and treatment for many minor health problems leaving the emergency and GP services to deal with the more serious issues.

General advice includes using paracetamol or ibuprofen if you have a temperature caused by coughs, cold or flu, or for pain relief for complaints such as earache, stomach ache, sore throats, general aches and sprains

You’ll also need anti-diarrhea and re-hydration mixtures for adults if they have a stomach upset, and makes sure anyone ill in your family gets plenty of rest and drinks lots of fluids.

Also this is a time to keep an eye 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.

Keeping warm is vital for everyone so you should keep curtains drawn and all doors closed to block out draughts, and wear several light layers of warm clothes rather than one chunky layer.

Keep your main living room at around 21°C (70°F), and the bedroom at least 18°C (65°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.

You should also eat regularly to help keep energy levels up and have regular hot drinks and at least one hot meal a day if possible.

It’s also important to keep as active as possible but don’t go out unless you really have to. If you do go outside, wrap up warmly and wear boots or shoes with good grip on the soles as icy pavements and roads can be very slippery.

Put grit on paths and driveways to lessen the risk of slipping and bear in mind that black ice on pavements or roads might not be clearly visible, and that compacted snow may turn to ice and become slippery.

For more information on winter health please visit http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/winterhealth/Pages/Winterhealthhome.aspx