Free room thermometers now available

Wales's over 60s can get a free room thermometer to make sure their homes are warm enough this winter.

The Keep Well this Winter campaign from Age Cymru has produced the room thermometers with Wales & West Utilities to help older people stay in good health over the winter.

Age Cymru's Keep Well this Winter Coordinator Rhian Pearce explains:

"Keep Well this Winter encourages older people in Wales to keep warm, keep well and keep safe, especially as older people need to keep warm during the winter months because the cold can have a detrimental effect on their health.

"Exposure to cold temperatures can lead to hypothermia and increase the risk of a stroke, heart attack or respiratory illnesses.

"This is why it is so important that older people are able to monitor the temperature in their homes and we advise maintaining bedroom temperature at 65 degrees Farenheit (18 degrees Celcius), and living room temperature at 70 degrees Farenheit (21 degrees Celsius.)"

The back of the bilingual room thermometer card contains handy tips from Wales & West Utilities for older people about protecting themselves from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Wales & West Utilities' Head of Corporate Affairs Jackie Roe says:

"Carbon monoxide poisoning kills 50 people a year in the UK.

"It is a poisonous gas produced by burning any fossil fuel such as coal, wood, oil or natural gas without adequate ventilation.

"Carbon monoxide has no smell, taste or colour, and it can kill without warning in a matter of minutes. Older people and the young are particularly at risk from it."

"Wales & West Utilities is glad to be working nationally with Age Cymru to help keep older people safe by keeping them aware of  the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and how to protect themselves from the so-called ‘silent killer'."

The thermometers are available from all Age Cymru shops, offices and local partners across Wales.