Winter Weather Advice That You Should Be Aware of to Stay Safe

Winter weather advice is very important for everyone. It not only protects your health but also helps you take action immediately if your relative has health problems. In the winter, biting winds, heavy snow, and very low temperatures also impact daily life. Cold weather can make some health problems worse and even lead to serious complications. 

Best advice for winter weather

Winter Weather Advice

Low temperatures can damage everyone’s health. Therefore, all people must know some winter weather advice below.

Find helping source

One of the best weather tips is that before getting any advice, you must know who you should call and which number of help centers you should call in case of emergencies. 

If you feel unwell, getting medical help as soon as possible is essential. You can get medical help and advice from:

• A pharmacy: Pharmacists can give you medical treatment advice as well as prescriptions and let you know if you need to see a doctor

• Your GP (General practitioner): Call or video chat with your GP online, tell them your symptoms, and then go in for an appointment if you are advised to go to the hospital. 

• Medical helpline: Access the website or call an urgent phone number to ask for help. 

Call the medical helpline to get winter weather advice

Get a flu vaccine

Flu is one of the most common winter season diseases. People with winter flu will often overcome it independently, but sometimes, with weaker conditions, it can seriously ill some people. 

Therefore, the winter weather advice is that you should get the flu vaccine if you have conditions.

The flu vaccine is proven to be safe and effective. It is often recommended yearly on the NHS to help protect people at risk of flu and its complications. 

The best time to get the flu vaccine is in the autumn before the flu starts spreading. However, you also can get the vaccine later.

Get a flu vaccine

With adults and elderly, you can get the NHS vaccine at: 

• Your GP surgery

• A pharmacy offering the service

• Your midwifery service if you're pregnant

If you are 65 years old or over, you are also eligible for the pneumococcal vaccine. Pneumococcal is one of the most widespread illnesses in the winter. 

The nasal spray flu vaccine is accessible on the NHS for:

• Children aged 2 or 3 years 

• All primary school children (reception to year 6)

• All year 7 in secondary school

• Children are from 2 to 17 years old with weak resistance 

Keep your home warm

The temperature outside is very cold with chilly winds, so keeping your home warm is essential. Follow these winter weather advice to keep you and your family warm and well at home:

Keep your home warm

• For those who are 65 or over or have health problems, such as heart or lung disease, heat your home to at least 18°C.

• Set your bedroom at 18°C all night or keep it as warm as possible by closing all bedroom windows, turning on the heating light, etc.

• For people under 65, the temperature at home can be lower than 18 °C as long as you are comfortable.

• You also use an electric blanket and heating bags to keep your body warm at all times, including in bed. 

• You should have a hot meal daily because eating a nourished diet regularly helps keep you warm.

• Regularly drinking hot water, tea, and coffee makes you feel better, especially your throat.

• To reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), babies should sleep in rooms heated to between 16°C and 20°C

• Let your heating system be checked regularly by a qualified professional

Find out more cold weather tips in GoWeatherForecast!

Prepare home emergency supplies

Winter has arrived, and you should prepare the following items in case a winter storm or power outage prevents you from leaving your house. Below are things you should prepare:

Home’s emergency kit

Who Is Most at Risk from Cold Weather?

The statistics show that cold weather kills more Americans each year than hot weather. Some people are more vulnerable impacted by the changing effects of cold temperatures. This includes:

• People are 65 or more than 65 years old

• Children are under 5 years old

• Poor people who cannot afford heating

• People with background pathology 

• Pregnant women

• People with a mental health conditions

People who are 65 years old and older are affected by cold weather

Despite that, cold weather can be hazardous for everyone. 

Dropping temperatures can cause hypothermia and frostbite, particularly on days when the temperature continuously drops below freezing. Therefore, everyone needs to know winter weather advice. 

What Makes People More Vulnerable in Winter?

Older adults or people having background pathology, under 5 years old kids, and pregnant women are at greater risk for hypothermia because their body’s ability to maintain a constant internal temperature is weaker than that of ordinary people.

The body typically produces additional heat by shivering, and the blood vessels under the skin’s surface constrict so that more blood goes to the heart and brain. 

However, this system doesn’t work as well in older adults and weaker patients. A poor diet may also reduce one's metabolic rate, making one always feel cold.

Besides, in winter, people often drink wine to warm themselves themselves. Alcohol can increase blood flow to the skin and extremities and make you feel warm, but it actually decreases the heating ability of your core.

Many people drink alcohol in winter

People with health problems are more vulnerable due to their weak organ functions.  

For example, an underactive thyroid causes decreased heat production, while chronic conditions that affect mobility (for example, arthritis) or cognitive function (such as Alzheimer’s disease) also can be factors. 

Additionally, seniors and poor people are at a higher risk of frostbite, such as lying on a cold floor, and because they may not afford to pay heating costs. 

Conclusion

Do you have any further winter weather advice? We hope you have all the information and knowledge you need to overcome this hard winter. Read more useful weather tips at GoWeatherForecast!