Is your heating ON or OFF?

VfM4meplse

It's getting noticeably colder in the mornings.

However today was beautifully warm and sunny, and the absolute antithesis to Monday's misery-guts weather.

Mee

Primrose wrote: »

The important thing to remember in cold rooms is to keep your extremities well insulated - feet, heads and hands. Who cares what you look like indoors anyway if you're wearing a comfy woollen hat? Fingerless gloves (as well as a hot water bottle to hug) are ideal for readers who are continually turning pages.

Good advice, but remember all you're doing yourself no favours or saving much if one becomes unwell and have to miss work, and/or have to pay for extra medication.

NHS advice:

Why is cold weather a problem?
When the temperature drops to below 8C, some people are at increased risk of:

• heart attack
• stroke
• flu
• pneumonia
• falls and injuries
• hypothermia
• Cold weather can also affect people with mental health conditions, such as depression and dementia.

Who's most at risk?
Very cold weather can affect anyone, but you are most vulnerable if:

• you're 65 or older
• 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're disabled
• you're pregnant
• you have young children (newborn to school age)
• you have a mental health condition

Be prepared
The Met Office provides weather forecasts on radio and TV, so listen in to these bulletins regularly to keep up-to-date with the weather.

Severe weather warnings are also issued on the Met Office website, through the Met Office Twitter feed, or you can call the Weather Desk on 0370 900 0100 or 01392 885 680.

The Met office also has advice on getting ready for winter.

This includes suggestions for practical things you can do to prepare for winter weather, including cold, ice and snow, high winds and flooding.

How to keep your home warm
Follow these tips to keep you and your family warm and well at home:

• if you're not very mobile, are 65 or over, or have a health condition, such as heart or lung disease, heat your home to at least 18C (65F)
• keep your bedroom at 18C all night if you can – and keep the bedroom window closed
  during the day you may prefer your living room to be slightly warmer than 18C
• to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), babies should sleep in rooms heated to between 16C and 20C
• if you're under 65, healthy and active, you can safely have your home cooler than 18C, if you're comfortable
• draw curtains at dusk and keep doors closed to block out draughts
• get your heating system checked regularly by a qualified professional
• Help with heating costs
  You may be able to claim financial and practical help with heating your home. Grants available include the Winter Fuel Payment and the Cold Weather Payment.

For more information on cold weather benefits and the other help available, read the section on financial help to heat your home in the Keep Warm, Keep Well leaflet.

The Energy Saving Trust has advice on how to reduce bills and make your home more energy efficient. They can also advise on grants and schemes available around the UK.

Find out more online from the Energy Saving Trust.

It's worthwhile claiming all the benefits you're entitled to before winter sets in.

Protect your health in the cold
If you start to feel unwell, even if it's a cough or cold, don't wait until it gets more serious. Seek advice from your pharmacist.

Follow these tips on keeping well in the cold:

• find out if you can get the flu jab for free on the NHS
• wear several layers of clothes rather than 1 chunky layer – clothes made from cotton, wool or fleecy fibres help to maintain body heat
• use a hot water bottle or electric blanket to keep warm in bed – but don't use both at the same time
• have at least 1 hot meal a day – eating regularly helps keep you warm; and make sure you have hot drinks regularly
• try not to sit still for more than an hour or so indoors – get up and stretch your legs
• stay active – even moderate exercise can help keep you warm
• wrap a scarf loosely around your mouth when outdoors – add a hat and wear shoes with a good grip, too
• if you have a heart or respiratory problem, stay indoors during very cold weather
• Look in on vulnerable neighbours and relatives
• Check up on older neighbours and relatives, and those with heart or respiratory (breathing) problems, to make sure they:

• are safe and well
• are warm enough, especially at night
• have stocks of food and medicines so they don't need to go out during very cold weather
• If you're worried about a relative or elderly neighbour, contact your local council or call the Age UK helpline on 0800 678 1174 (8am to 7pm every day).

If you're concerned that the person may be suffering from hypothermia, contact NHS 111.

Get advice on keeping warm and well.

Page last reviewed: 31 March 2017
Next review due: 31 March 2020

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/keep-warm-keep-well/

Greenglockenspiel

Had the heating on for an hour at the weekend as we washed the towels. Had been hoping to hold out from having it on properly for a while longer, but have it set to 18 today and yesterday as I'm off sick with the flu and need to keep warm and cosy in bed while I recover.

Primrose

Sensible advice Mee and a good reminder for everybody.
I have one of those wrist step counters and if I sit mobile reading for more than an hour it buzzes me and.a little cartoon man starts waving his arms and legs around on the screen and tells me to get my body moving.

Annoying sometimes when I'm engrossed in a book but a good reminder to get up and walk around for a few minutes or do a few gentle squats . I'm long past the days when press ups could be attempted but any movement is good to keep your circulation going.

mrsr

My heating is on first thing in morning for a hr for my granddaughter getting up,a good reminder Mee my husband has advanced cancer and COBD so we will properly be putting heating on all day soon.The house is well insulated so helps but not sure how we will pay the bills especially as he can no longer work

Keeping fingers crossed it's not a bad winter.

Mee

Greenglockenspiel wrote: »

Had the heating on for an hour at the weekend as we washed the towels. Had been hoping to hold out from having it on properly for a while longer, but have it set to 18 today and yesterday as I'm off sick with the flu and need to keep warm and cosy in bed while I recover.

Look after yourself - health before cost.

Wednesday2000

mrsr wrote: »

My heating is on first thing in morning for a hr for my granddaughter getting up,a good reminder Mee my husband has advanced cancer and COBD so we will properly be putting heating on all day soon.The house is well insulated so helps but not sure how we will pay the bills especially as he can no longer work

Keeping fingers crossed it's not a bad winter.

:grouphug: Lots of layers and hot water bottles and warm drinks. Have you seen if there is a local hospice charity that might help you out?

My husband had cancer a few years ago and I didn't realise there was a lot of support that I didn't access at the time.xxx

VfM4meplse

Its been surprisingly mild considering we're fast approaching GMT once more. I came back about and hour ago and the house was cool but far from frozen. 60 minutes with the heating on has fixed that.

Mee

ON:
Put the heating on for 20 mins this a.m. whilst in the bathroom and bedroom which are the coldest rooms in my apartment.

Primrose

OFF since breakfast, despite non stop rain and grey sky, but thermal vest and body warmer definitely ON !