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Keep warm in winter

Winter weather advice and information

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    How cold weather affects your health

    Winter weather can bring many risks to you and your family. There's the usual winter coughs, colds and flu, but then there's also risks to your health associated with flooding and storms.

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    Home Energy Check

    Our handypersons will help you prepare for the winter by providing useful tips on saving energy ensuring you are using your heating system efficiently and advising on other winter services.

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    Ways to keep the spirit up

    Here are some things you can do to stay safe, keep warm and beat off those winter blues.

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    Cold weather advice

    What to do when the weather is particularly bad. Beat the bad weather with these simple steps.

Winter Health

As we get older it can be a struggle to get out and about in winter. The shorter, colder days and long, dark nights can make us feel depressed and isolated. Age UK Dacorum's Telephone Club and Befriending service offer the opportunity for anyone over 50 living alone to receive free calls and visits from our friendly volunteers and staff.
      
Living in a cold home with inadequate or inefficient heating can also exacerbate the situation.  Our  Handyperson service  offers free home energy checks to anyone over the age of 50 who has difficulty keeping his/her home warm.
 

Call us on 01442 259049 or contact us online to find out how our services can help you stay warm and healthy this winter.

Useful Guides for Winter Warmth

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    Save energy, pay less

    This guide looks at ways to make your home warmer without spending more on your heating bills. There are plenty of quick and easy things you can do that won't cost you a thing.

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    Keep Warm Keep Well

    This booklet aims to help you maintain good health during winter and take advantage of the financial help and benefits available. Information for Over-60s, low-income families and people living with disabilities.

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    Winter Wrapped up

    A guide to keeping warm and well this winter. It explains what you can do to get yourself and your home ready for winter as well as where to go for more information and support.

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    Recipes for a warmer winter

    A booklet of delicious ways to keep you warm

Support our Winter Warmth programme

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Excess Winter Deaths - Some interesting facts and figures

winter warmthWhat is Excess Winter Deaths (EWD)?
These are deaths which are directly related to the cold weather. These are people who generally have underlying health problems but would not have been expected to die during this period. This is why we call them ‘excess winter deaths’ (EWD).   

Who is at risk?
Many different groups within society can be considered ‘vulnerable’ to the adverse affects of cold weather.However, some people are most at risk of serious illness or even death.

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These deaths are caused by the cold making underlying health problems much worse for example; heart disease,
strokes and breathing problems. Being too cold can also increase the risk of trips and falls, which can be very dangerous for the elderly and frail.

What are the causes of Excess Winter Deaths?
Evidence suggests a strong link between EWDs and cold homes but not socio-economic deprivation. EWDs do not just occur in the poorest households, all of the most vulnerable are at risk if they live in a cold home.

What were the statistics for 2017/18?
There were an estimated 50,100 excess winter deaths (EWDs) in England and Wales in the 2017/18 winter period.