Stay Warm, Stay Well, Stay Safe – cold weather

February 7, 2012

Throughout the winter, Cheshire East Council and its partner agencies in the Adult Safeguarding Board have been providing information and key contact numbers as part of its Stay Warm, Stay Well, Stay Safe campaign. This is intended to assist, reassure and empower its most vulnerable people by providing information at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/winter and through the local media.

Cheshire East usually sees a 20 per cent rise in the number of deaths during winter compared to the rest of the year.

This means there are predicted to be around 220 additional deaths between December and March and with the cold weather very much now taking hold, the Council is playing its part in helping people to stay warm and alive.

Temperatures plummeted to less than minus six degrees in Nantwich on Wednesday, February 1, and snow has affected the region over the weekend.

In preparedness for these extremities, the Cheshire East Adult Safeguarding Board’s Stay Warm, Stay Well, Stay Safe campaign aims to give vulnerable people the information they need to cope with a harsh winter.

And the authority and its partners are working in line with the Government’s cold weather plan for England 2011/2012 – the first coordinated plan supported by the Met Office cold weather alert service.

Councillor Roland Domleo, Cabinet member with responsibility for adult services, said: “The aims of the cold weather plan are to reduce winter mortality in vulnerable people through appropriate preparation and alerts.

“Our colleagues in the health and social care professions have activated plans to deal with any surge in demand for services and mobilise community and voluntary support through effective communication.

“We would encourage individuals and communities to take immediate action to minimise the harmful effects of the weather, including: heating a room; dressing warmly and eating well; and checking on those known in the area who may be at greater risk.

“And this Council’s emergency planning team works well with town and parish councils to assist them in identifying the most vulnerable people in our societies. It does this by encouraging the preparation of community resilience plans.

“If anyone has concerns about an adult during the cold weather, I would urge them to contact one of the numbers below.”

Cheshire East has put together a wealth of information in one place at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/winter where residents can find advice on a wide range of topics from heating, eating and winter safety to school closures and public transport.

Information sheets have also been passed around, with important contact details for residents to use should they have any concerns about their safety, or for the safety of others in the neighbourhood.

One piece of advice which the Council would like to offer is that residents should heat their living room to 21C/70F in the daytime and to set the bedroom night temperature to at least 18C/65F.

Derek Thomas, the independent chair of the Adult Safeguarding Board, added: “About a third of the additional deaths experienced in Cheshire East are due to cardiovascular disease, which can be directly linked to the cold weather.

“When temperatures drop it causes the blood to thicken and increases the risk of death from heart attack or stroke in people with the disease.

“Cold weather also lowers people’s resistance to the flu, which is dangerous for people of all ages who have chronic medical conditions, as they are 11 times more likely than healthy people to die if they catch the infection.

“It is times like this that everyone needs to look after each other and it is an opportunity to be a good neighbour.”

Those who are worried about an adult or are looking for social care support should contact 0300 123 5010 between the hours of 8.30am and 5pm. Outside of these hours, they should call 0300 123 5022.