Cold weather and winter advice

Cold and damp weather can be bad for our health, especially for people aged 65 or older, and people with long-term health conditions.

It's important to stay warm, look out for vulnerable neighbours, and be careful of slips, trips and falls.

See our top tips to help you stay well this winter.

Know who's most at risk from cold weather

Some people are more vulnerable to the effects of cold weather. This includes:

People aged 65 and older
Babies and children under the age of 5
People who have a long-term health condition such as heart disease or kidney disease, COPD, asthma or diabetes
People with weakened immune systems
Pregnant women
People with a disability
Those who are struggling to heat their homes

Get vaccinated

Getting your Winter Vaccines is one of the most important things you can do to keep yourself and others around you safe this winter.

Help to stop the spread

The most common illnesses circulating in the winter are:

Common cold
COVID-19 (opens new window)
Flu (opens new window)
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
Diarrhoea and Vomiting
Strep throat and scarlet fever

You can help to stop the spread of these illnesses by:

Trying to stay at home if you are unwell and avoid contact with other people until you feel better
If you test positive for Covid, you should try and stay at home for five full days (three days for children) and avoid contact with vulnerable people for 10 full days
Washing your hands (opens new window) with soap and water is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself and others from illnesses such as food poisoning, diarrhoea, flu and COVID-19. Wash your hands thoroughly for around 20 seconds

Stock up on essentials

Stock up on essential items in case weather or illness keeps you at home for a few days. You can get medicines for most minor illnesses at your local supermarkets. Own brand versions are cheaper and just as effective. Ask your local pharmacist for advice.

For more information search 'medicines' on www.nhs.uk (opens new window).

Prescriptions

Make sure you order any repeat prescriptions well in advance of the Christmas and New Year break. You can do it through the NHS App (opens new window) and pick it up from your local pharmacy. Find your local pharmacy.

Don't go to a pharmacy if you have COVID-19. Ask a friend, relative or volunteer to collect medicines for you.

Keep Warm

Heat your home to a temperature that's comfortable for you. If you can, this should be at least 18°C in the rooms that you regularly use, such as your living room and bedroom. This is particularly important if you have a pre-existing medical condition.

You should also keep your bedroom windows closed at night.

Make sure you are receiving all the help that you are entitled to. There are grants, benefits, and sources of advice available to make your home more energy efficient, improve your heating or help with bills. Visit the following websites for further information:

Find ways to save energy in your home - GOV.UK

Benefits and financial support if you're on a low income - GOV.UK

For local advice and information check our Financial wellbeing support hub information.

Check your heating and cooking appliances are safe. Contact a Gas Safe registered engineer to make sure they are operating properly. Visit Gas Safe Register and National Fire Chiefs Council.

Be kind to your mind

If you are finding things hard at the moment you are not alone. Taking care of your mental health is really important to help you cope with life's challenges. For practical tips, advice and information search 'NHS Every Mind Matters'.

Keep Active

Regular exercise can help improve your mental health, reduce the risk of falling and can be beneficial for recovery if you do get ill.

You should aim to be active every day. The more you do, the better you will feel. Whether it's a daily walk or a home workout, there are tips, tools and special offers at www.nhs.uk/better-health. For information about local walks and activities see our Active Sunderland pages.

Look out for other people

Look out for people who might need a bit of extra help over the winter.

Help clear icy pavements if you can.
Keep in touch to check if they need any help.
Remind others to make sure they get any prescription medicines before the holiday period starts and if bad weather is forecast.
If they need help over the holiday period when the GP practice or Pharmacy is closed, NHS 111 can help. The service is available online at NHS 111 (opens new window) and by phone.

Eat well

Eating healthy meals helps you stay fit and well. The Sunderland Healthy Lifestyles team has a range of budget friendly recipes to try.

Reduce your drinking and reduce your risk

No one likes to think they're drinking too much alcohol but it's easy to underestimate how much you're drinking, especially at this time of year. Find out how your drinking adds up and get tips and tools to help you cut back at www.reducemyrisk.tv.

Stop smoking

Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health. With the right support you're five times more likely to quit for good. Find out more about local help and support at www.sunderlandstopsmokingservice.co.uk.

Choose the right service

Winter can bring lots of coughs, colds and viruses. You can treat lots of these at home. Talk to your local pharmacist at the first signs of illness. They can give lots of good advice. If it's more urgent try 111 online to find the right service for you.