Be safe this season

It may be cold outside but winter needn’t be the least safe time of year for you and your family. This leaflet provides information to help you plan ahead and prepare for winter.www.wakefield.gov.uk/seasonalhealth

n Preparing for winter

n Stocking up on medicines

n Keeping you warm

n Keeping your home warm

n Flu jab

n Be antibiotics aware

n Is A&E for me?

Preparing for winter

Top tips to help you prepare for the winter months, n ✔ tick each item as you prepare for the cold weather.

Stock up your cupboards with food and household items - stock up on nutritional foods that keep, e.g. tins of fruit, fish, vegetables, soups, stews, pulses, pasta, rice, cereals, long life milk/juice. It’s a good idea to keep a spare loaf of bread in the freezer as a reserve. Make sure that food/drink with a short shelf life is used first and regularly replenished. Don’t consume food/drink that has passed its ‘use by’ date, throw them away. If you’re checking on a neighbour/relative - look in their fridge, they may need food bringing but be too proud to ask for help

Prepare for travelling by car in extreme weather - for peace of mind carry an emergency kit to include ice scraper, de-icer, torch, spare batteries, warm clothes, blanket, boots, first aid kit, jump leads, food, warm drink in a flask, shovel, reflective warning sign, sunglasses and a fully charged mobile phone, but do not rely on this solely as chances are you will get stuck in a place where there is limited or no signal.

Clear your paths of snow/ice with sand or salt - if you can’t do it yourself ask a friend, neighbour, or family member. When clearing the paths use salt or sand, NOT water. Take care where you move the snow.

Plan ahead - plan ahead and follow weather forecasts/warnings. If extreme weather is predicted, avoid going out. Avoid risking your health and wellbeing for unnecessary journeys.

Top up your credits and payment cards - you’ll use more energy in winter, so make sure you have credit on your payment cards or tokens. Top up your mobile phone credit. If you use LPG or oil as a main energy source remember to check you have sufficient supplies.

Emergency contacts and pendants - add useful contact numbers to your mobile phone in case of emergencies. Add your next of kin’s number to your mobile phone under the heading ‘ICE’ - In Case of Emergency. If you are involved in an accident, emergency services will use it to contact your relative. If you have an emergency pendant remember to wear it. If you don’t have a mobile phone it’s a good idea to have a list of emergency numbers next to the phone, including your nextof kin.

Stock up on your medicines - if you take regular medication, order a new supply from your GP when you are down to the last seven days’ supply. Most pharmacies can collect your prescription from your GP

You can also help yourself by keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet and first aid box, to deal with day-to-day illness and injury. Some key items to keep in your medicine cabinet and first aid box are listed below.

• Pain relief such as paracetamol and aspirin (aspirin should not be given to children under 16 or to people with asthma)

• Paediatric paracetamol oral suspension or ibuprofen syrups for children

• Mild laxatives to relieve constipation

• Cold relief products

• Rehydration mixtures for diarrhoea or vomiting to use if feeling dehydrated after a bout of sickness or diarrhoea

• Indigestion remedy

• Travel sickness tablets for family trips

• Tweezers and sharp scissors to remove splinters and cut bandages

• A thermometer to check for fever

• A range of bandages, plasters, non-absorbent cotton wool, elastic bandages and dressings forminor cuts, sprains and bruises.

Always follow the advice of the pharmacist, doctor or nurse that provides you with prescribed medicines and those bought over-the-counter. Read the instructions and never go over the suggested dose.

Don’t forget - Check festive opening hours

Make sure that you order any repeat prescriptions you need ahead of your GP practice closing for the festive period and make a note of the opening times of your local pharmacy and shops.

Making sure you have enough medicines to see you through the holiday period until GP surgeries re-open can not only make a difference to your health but it can also ensure doctors are not called out unnecessarily or that people are not heading to A&E when they don’t need to.

Keeping you warm

One of the best ways to stay well this winter is to keep warm. Keeping warm over the winter months can help prevent colds, flu or more serious health conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia and depression.Some key tips for keeping warm include:• Use heating gadgets. You can use a hot-water

bottle or electric blanket (but not both at the same time) to keep warm while you're in bed.

• Eat well. Food is a vital source of energy, whichhelps to keep your body warm. Try to make sure that you have hot meals and drinks regularly throughout the day.

• Wrap up warm, inside and out. Several thin layersof clothing will keep you warmer than one thick layer, shawls or blankets will provide warmth when sitting. Always wear gloves, hat and shoes with a good grip if you need to go outside. If you have heart or breathing/lung problems stay indoors during the extreme cold weather.

• Keep active round the house. This will help to keep your joints moving, and keep you warm.

• Check on others. If you are fit and well yourself,spare the time to check in on relatives/ neighbours. Often they can be too proud to ask for help, if they are sitting in a cold room with lots of blankets and still cold - they may not have their heating on.

If you are worried about the safety or well-being of an adult at risk or older person please contact Social Care Direct. They will deal with your concerns and offer advice and support about what to do.You can contact Social Care Direct byTelephone: 0345 8 503 503 Fax: 01924 303455Minicom: 01924 303450 (type talk welcome) Email: social_care_direct@wakefield.gov.uk

Keeping your home warm

Cold homes can have a significant impact on people’s health. Make sure that you keep your heating to the right temperature, this should be set to a minimum 18°C. Heating your home to the recommended temperature over the winter will reduce risk to your health.

Home Energy TeamThe council has a Home Energy Team who will be able to advise on how to access a scheme and possible funding to enable energy efficiency measures to be installed into your home or the home of friends or relatives. When the householder is elderly or on certain income related benefits the measures may be free of charge.If you are a member of a community group we are also able to attend a group session to offer advice and some energy saving devices and information.

Please contact eat@wakefield.gov.uk or 03449 020 222 for further information.

Health facts• Internal temperatures that are lower than 16 degrees could make any breathing problems worse.

• Internal temperatures below 12 degrees place strain on the heart.

• Temperatures below 6 degrees place people at risk of hypothermia.

Cold weather is likely to have an impact on your health if you're vulnerable to cold-related illnesses because of one or more of the following: • you're over 65

• you're on a low income (so can't afford heating)

• you have a long-term health condition such as heart, lung or kidney disease

• you are disabled

Conditions that are not initially associated with the cold can also be affected by low temperatures, these include:• Diabetes

• Arthritis

• Conditions affecting mobility

Be flu-free this winter - get the flu jab

Don’t put off getting the flu vaccination; if you’re eligible get it now, because you need it. If you have a long-term health condition, even one that is well managed, or you are pregnant, you are at greater risk of severe complications if you catch flu.

What is flu?Flu is a highly infectious disease with symptoms that come on very suddenly. Colds are much less serious and usually start gradually with a stuffy or runny nose and a sore throat. A bad bout of flu can be much worse than a heavy cold. The most common symptoms of flu are fever, chills, headache, aches and pains in the joints and muscles, and extreme tiredness. In most cases, the symptoms are quite mild, but in others, they can be very serious. Healthy individuals usually recover within two to seven days, but for some the disease can lead to hospitalisation, permanent disability or even death.

Don’t wait until there’s a flu outbreak - if you’re eligible for the free flu jab contact your GP or practice nurse today.

Who should have the flu jab?Those recommended to have the flu jab are:

• everyone aged 65 and over

• everyone under 65 with a medical condition, listed below, including babies and children over six months of age

• all pregnant women, at any stage of pregnancy

• all two, three and four year old children

• all children in secondary school in years 7 & 8 (pilot for this year)

• everyone living in a residential or nursing home

• everyone who cares for an older or disabled person

Medical conditions include:• Chronic (long term) respiratory disease such as asthma

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchitis

• Chronic heart disease, such as heart failure

• Chronic kidney disease

• Chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis

• Chronic neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease or motor neurone disease

• Diabetes

• People with problems with their spleen - for example, sickle cell disease, or have had their spleen removed

• People with a weakened immune system due to conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or as a result of medication such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy

For advice and information about the flu vaccination, speak to your GP, practice nurse or pharmacist.

Be antibiotics awareAntibiotics are important medicines. They help fight infections that are caused by bacteria. Antibiotic resistance (when an antibiotic is no longer effective) is a major problem.

Antibiotic resistance is caused by overusing antibiotics and prescribing them inappropriately. It's important that we use antibiotics the right way, to slow down resistance and make sure these life-saving medicines remain effective for us and future generations.

All colds and most coughs and sore throats are caused by viruses. Antibiotics do not work against infections, such as colds, caused by viruses. The best way to treat most colds, coughs or sore throats is to drink plenty of fluids and to rest. Colds can last about two weeks and may end with a cough and bringing up phlegm. There are many over the counter remedies to ease the symptoms – paracetamol, for example. Ask your pharmacist for advice.

Further information can be found on the following website: www.nhs.uk/antibiotics

Coughs and sneezes spread diseasesIf you do get a cold or cough this winter, or worse get the flu, remember these three simple things to help stop it spreading to others;

Catch it, Bin it, Kill it.

Unexpected Sickness

Severe pain

Worsening health conditions

Call 111For accidents and unexpected health

problems call 111. A free to call

number available 24 hours a day.

365 days a year.

When & why?111 is a free number to call and is

a fast and easy way for people to

get the right help. Whatever their

health needs and whatever the time

of day or night.

Hangover

Grazed knee

Sore throat

Self careA lot of illnesses can be treated at

home by keeping a well-stocked

medicine cabinet and by getting plenty

of rest. For further information visit

NHS choices.

When & why?Self care is the best way to treat

very minor illnesses and injuries.

Choosing well ensures you receive

the best possible treatment, leaving

emergency services to those who

need them most.

Diarrhoea

Runny nose

Painful cough

Headache

Pharmacist (chemist)Your pharmacist is a highly trained

healthcare professional and can give

you advice on common illnesses and

the medicines you need to treat them.

Most now have a quiet area away from

other customers where you can speak

to the pharmacist more privately.

When & why?Visit your pharmacy when you are

suffering from a common health

problem which does not require

being seen by a nurse or doctor.

Choosing well ensures you receive

the best possible treatment, leaving

emergency services to those who

need them most.

Cuts

Stomach ache

Back ache

GP ( Doctor)Most GPs have some early morning,

later evening or Saturday openings.

Check with your local practice for up

to date opening times.

When & why?Make an appointment with your GP

when you have an illness or injury

that will not go away. Out-of-

hours medical assessment is also

available. Choosing well ensures you

receive the best possible treatment,

leaving emergency services to those

who need them most.

Cuts

Strains

Rashes

Sprains

NHS Walk-in CentreThe walk in centre on King Street

in Wakefield is open 8am to 8pm

seven days a week. No appointment

necessary.

When & why?Illnesses and injuries that give more

cause for concern such as cuts,

sprains, strains and rashes can be

treated at the walk in centre.

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Is A&E for me?Choose the right sort of care for your symptoms - and help others who don’t know what to do. This can help you get the right care, get better faster and reduce needless visits to busy A&E departments.

Your local healthcare options include, self care, 111 helpline, Pharmacist, GP, Walk-in-centre, A&E or 999. See the table below to find out what’s right for your symptoms: