The Yellow Cold Health Alert has been upgraded to Amber by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office.
The Amber Cold-Health Alert for the South East will be in effect between noon today (Sunday 14th January) until noon on Friday (19th January 2024).
The Cold-Health Alert is issued to notify those working in the health and care sectors, but they also prove a useful reminder to check on older or vulnerable neighbours.
Winter tips top stay healthy
These simple steps below, issued by the Isle of Wight council last week can be followed to help yourself and others stay healthy over the winter:
- Keep warm. A cold home can increase the risk of health impacts, particularly for more vulnerable people.
- Try to heat rooms you spend a lot of time in, such as the bedroom or living room, to at least 18°C (65°F), day and night – and keep bedroom windows closed. You may prefer your main living room to be slightly warmer.
- Wear several layers of thinner clothing rather than one thick layer – this will help keep you warmer.
- Draw curtains at dusk and block out draughts.
- Try not to sit still for too long, ideally not more than an hour or so. Anyone who has trouble getting up and moving around can also stretch their arms and legs to help them stay warm.
- If you need to go out, remember to wrap up warm, and wear shoes with good grips to avoid slipping on icy surfaces.
Disruptive snow?
The Met Office stated at the end of the week that disruptive snow and ice are possible in the next few days across the country, as an arctic airmass exerts its influence on the UK’s weather.
From the middle of the week, the Met Office say we can expect milder Atlantic air pushing in from the southwest.
See their website for the latest weather forecasts.
