Over 60s Reminded By Government To Be Prepared For Cold Weather

The government issued a detailed leaflet last November advising all elderly people over 60 to be prepared for winter weather and cold snaps.

But unlike many years gone by, our climate is changing and with it the seasons which we previously were able to determine as occurring regularly each year at specific times of the year; is no longer the case. Due to global warming, we are seeing erratic weather conditions with rain, ice, snow, hailstones, sun, wind, and temperature fluctuations; all happening ‘out of season’ and even on occasion during one single day!

Preparations for heatwaves is usually promoted by the Government and news media, but preparations for winter weather cannot know be always assumed to occur only in the winter months, making their advice leaflet something with which we should all be familiar.

The 22 page leaflet, which is downloadable from the Unionsafety E-Library Database, begins with a forward giving simple advice:

“There’s more to feeling ‘under the weather’ than most people realise. Cold and wintry conditions can cause severe illness and, in the worst cases, people can die.

The cold weather, combined with low levels of sunlight after the clocks go back, means that many of us can feel in poor health.

However, with some simple precautions, most people can be prepared for the cold
weather and prevent much of the misery that is often associated with winter weather.

Severe cold snaps can have dramatic effects on everyday life, especially for those people who are already vulnerable because of their age, illness or disability.”

It is important to remember that elderly people feel the cold far more than those of a younger age, and especially if they are already not feeling at their best. This leaflet is therefore important to have available all the year round so that elderly people can be encouraged and helped to avoid being effected by cold snaps and inclimate weather.

Use the search word ‘winter’ to find the 'Keep Warm, Keep Well’ leaflet to download from the E-Library Database

Source: Gov.UK / Unionsafety

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