Get Ready For Winter

Over the next few weeks we will be adding information and advice from all of our colleagues,local and national, to help keep you safe and well over the winter

  Our first contributors are NHS Sussex:

 

 

 

Stay healthy and well this winter  http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/winterhealth/Pages/Healthywinter.aspx

 Protect yourself against flu

Remember to have your flu jab if you are aged 65 or over, pregnant, have a long-term medical condition, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person. The seasonal flu vaccine is free and will protect you from the flu which can result in serious complications which require hospital treatment or could make an existing condition worse. Talk to your GP or local pharmacist to find out more, and if you are pregnant please talk to your midwife.

 

Good hand hygiene stops the spread of viruses

People can protect themselves and those around them by remembering good hand hygiene. By using the 'catch it, bin it, kill it' technique - reduces the spread of germs. This means carrying tissues, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue, disposing of the tissue after one use, and cleaning hands as soon as possible with soap and water or an alcohol hand gel.

If you do become ill with diarrhoea or sickness, please stay at home and remember to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Please do not go to Accident and Emergency unless your condition deteriorates.

 

Prevent slip, trips and falls

Every winter a large number of the people admitted to hospital have injured themselves during a slip or fall. Do what you can to protect yourself and prevent an injury - check you have well-gripping shoes to prevent falls in cold weather 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.

 Stay warm to stay well

It is important to keep warm and well during periods of cold weather:

• Keep curtains drawn and doors closed to block out draughts.

• Have regular hot drinks and at least one hot meal a day if possible. Eating regularly helps keep energy levels up during winter. 

• Wear several light layers of warm clothes (rather than one chunky layer). 

• Keep as active as possible.

• Wrap up warm if you need to go outside on cold days.

  http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/winterhealth/Pages/KeepWarmKeepWell.aspx

Look out for others

Check up 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. People with heart or respiratory (breathing) problems may have worse symptoms during a cold spell and for several days after temperatures return to normal.

 

Remember to choose well

If you become unwell or injured this winter, the NHS in Sussex is urging everyone to choose the right health service to get help and treatment. Winter is a very busy time for the NHS so by choosing well you will get the best treatment as quickly as possible.

• It's a good idea to keep some everyday medicines and first-aid materials at home so you can treat common ailments like colds and small cuts. Your local pharmacist can also offer a range of help and advice over the counter.     
• For expert health advice and information, 24 hours a day, you can call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.
• Your GP is the right choice for general medical advice and treatment, prescriptions, vaccinations and tests. When your surgery is closed you can ring the West Sussex out of hours service on 0300 130 1313 to get advice from a clinician.
• If you need more urgent medical help, the Minor Injury Units and Urgent Treatment Centre can help with cuts, sprains, broken bones and minor burns and scalds.
• Accident and Emergency departments should only be used in a critical or life-threatening situation. However, if you think you are suffering from a heart attack, heavy bleeding or traumatic back, spinal or back pain, or a person is unconsciousness, you must call 999.

Find out where your local service is available - http://www.nhs.uk/Pages/HomePage.aspx

A campaign has been launched by West Sussex County Council to help people get ready for the cold winter months ahead. See poster

The advice given ranges from how to protect your home and helping your community to winter travel advice and health and wellbeing.

 

Throughout November information boards will be on display in local libraries to help people think ahead.

A new webpage has also been created on the County Council website - www.westsussex.gov.uk/getreadyforwinter - to offer helpful advice and suggest simple steps people can take to prepare for cold weather.

Pete Bradbury, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: "After the particularly severe winters we have all experienced in the last couple of years it makes sense to prepare and plan ahead.

"By taking a few simple steps or precautions now people can make life a lot easier should the bad weather hit us hard again."

Some of the advice includes:

1. Check for people who might need help in your community
2. Check you have the means to clear snow and ice
3. Volunteer to help in your community
4. Ensure you have shoes with good grip
5. Prepare your car for the winter
6. Check travel and weather warnings
7. Order winter fuel
8. Check pipes are lagged

Know where to turn your water off

1. Find out about heating and insulation grants
2. Find out if you qualify for a flu jab
3. Wash your hands to prevent viruses spreading

 

People can also call the County Council on 01243 777100 for advice.