Are you thinking of going out tonight or are you or someone you know coming to Europe on holiday and lost for what to wear or how to keep warm?
Across Europe, 74 people have died from hypothermia when temperatures dropped to -14 degrees centigrade. Weather forecasts predict more of the cold weather and there is a high risk of people getting ill. Older people, babies and people with certain health conditions are among those more at risk. As Britain enters into a cold spell, here are some handy tips for staying warm both inside and when you are out and about…
Stay warm in your homeIf you live in the Eurozone including the UK and you are receiving certain benefits during very cold weather, you may qualify for a Cold Weather Payment which can pay for extra heating in your home. Call your local council. Your room can become dangerously low at night so, to keep safe and warm during the night you should try to keep the temperature above 18°C (65°F) in your bedroom overnight.
To avoid overheating which is equally dangerous, open the window or door a little at night for ventilation if you use a fire or heater in your bedroom during winter.
Cuddle up to a loved one or a pet. People and animals such as dogs and cats are warm-blooded mammals so why not use each other's heat to keep the cold at bay?
Use a hot water bottle during the day and at night to warm yourself up.
However, never use hot water bottles in the same bed as an electric blanket, even if the blanket is switched off – you can become overheated. To be on the safe side, unplug blankets before you go to bed, unless they have a thermostat control for safe all-night use. And get your electric blanket tested every three years for safety.
Wrap up warm in bed. Just because you're in bed does not mean you don't have to worry about what you are wearing. Wear warm bed garments and if you can invest in a duvet with a tog rating of 15 of higher.
Other ways to keep your home warm
Insulation makes your home warm and healthy and will also help to keep your heating costs down. It’s a good idea to draught-proofing to seal any gaps around windows and doors. Hang thick curtains up over doors and windows and if you can afford it get doubled glazing installed.You may also be able to get financial help to insulate your home so call your local council.
Close your windows. If you need fresh air go for a walk. If you leave windows open, it lets cold air in, hot air out and makes the heating work even harder to try and warm your home.
Shut the doors to any rooms that you don't use. It stops cold air from circulating around your home which reduces heat loss.Stay together with members of your family in one of the smaller rooms in your home during the day. Keep the room really warm and cosy and have a daily cosy get together.
Keeping warm outdoors
Wear plenty of thin layers, rather than one thick one especially clothes made of wool, cotton or fleecy synthetic fibres.
Also, wear opaque tights, thermal leggings or socks and to keep your legs warm. You can wear one or more pairs over each other under your clothes. Thermal vests are also very warm and you can wear them under party dresses.
Put on a coat, hat, scarf, gloves and warm shoes or boots when you go outside.
Stay healthy in winter
To reduce the risk of illness and protect yourself against the cold, you can get a flu jab or injection. The jab is free if you have serious heart, lung or kidney disease or diabetes or if you have a weak immune system, caused by disease or medical treatment or if you have had a stroke or TIA (transient ischaemic attack) or you are aged 65 years or if you are pregnant. Contact your GP or talk to your pharmacist if you think you might qualify for a free flu jab.
Eating regular meals will help keep you warm and your energy levels up during winter. Try to have plenty of hot food, soups and drinks.
Plan your meals and keep your diet as varied as possible and aim to include five portions of fruit and vegetables daily - this includes tinned and frozen fruit and vegetables.
Stay activeExercise is good for your overall health and it can keep you warm in winter. Even a small amount of exercise can bring health benefits. If possible, try to move around at least once an hour. Reduce your thermostat and go for a brisk walk around your neighbourhood when you get back you would feel warmer. If you are out and about keep moving to keep warm.
The more you are active, the better your blood circulation will be. This will mean that your blood moves round your body and gets to your fingers and toes, keeping them warm.
Hypothermia. Hypothermia is when a person gets too cold. Know the symptoms of hypothermia. Shivering can be used as a guide to how severe hypothermia is. If a person can stop shivering on their own, the hypothermia is mild. If they can’t stop shivering, it’s moderate to severe. Severe hypothermia needs urgent medical treatment in hospital.
Take a hot shower or bath. Dry yourself completely before you come out and use oil or lotion on your skin, which can be like an extra layer of clothing.
Get your slippers on. Wear two pairs of socks. Try slipper socks - socks with grips or wear Ugg boots and lay a rug or carpet in your room to keep your feet warm.
Limit steam cooking. Steam will raise the moisture level in your home, making the air dense, and you need more energy to heat humid air. Keep your kitchen door when you are cooking or limit cooking that gives off steam, as this will increase the humidity in the air and make your house damp.
After you've cooked your dinner, leave the oven door open to let heat escape and help warm up your home.
Live in a sun-bathed house. If lots of the sun's light reaches your house the temperature on the walls and inside your home increases. Remove items leaning against walls, tree branches and so on.
Wear a thick bathrobe or dressing gown throughout the day and to bed. A dressing gown acts as a big, fluffy blanket of warmth with sleeves and it is very comfortable too.
Visit friends and family. Purposefully spend time in a location that is heated at no cost to you. If you are unemployed find a job, offices are often warm, visit your local library, café, church, a friend's house.
To keep warm at home during the dayTry to heat your main living room to around 18-24°C (64-75°F) and the rest of the house to at least 16°C (61°F) especially if you have young children and elderly people in your home.
It is better to heat all the rooms you use in the day and make sure you keep your living room warm throughout the day and heat your bedroom before going to bed.
Set the timer on your heating to come on before you get up and switch off when you go to bed. In very cold weather, set the heating to come on earlier, rather than turn the thermostat up. This means you won’t be cold while you wait for your home to heat up.
Keep warm at night
Across Europe, 74 people have died from hypothermia when temperatures dropped to -14 degrees centigrade. Weather forecasts predict more of the cold weather and there is a high risk of people getting ill. Older people, babies and people with certain health conditions are among those more at risk. As Britain enters into a cold spell, here are some handy tips for staying warm both inside and when you are out and about…
Stay warm in your homeIf you live in the Eurozone including the UK and you are receiving certain benefits during very cold weather, you may qualify for a Cold Weather Payment which can pay for extra heating in your home. Call your local council. Your room can become dangerously low at night so, to keep safe and warm during the night you should try to keep the temperature above 18°C (65°F) in your bedroom overnight.
To avoid overheating which is equally dangerous, open the window or door a little at night for ventilation if you use a fire or heater in your bedroom during winter.
Cuddle up to a loved one or a pet. People and animals such as dogs and cats are warm-blooded mammals so why not use each other's heat to keep the cold at bay?
Use a hot water bottle during the day and at night to warm yourself up.
However, never use hot water bottles in the same bed as an electric blanket, even if the blanket is switched off – you can become overheated. To be on the safe side, unplug blankets before you go to bed, unless they have a thermostat control for safe all-night use. And get your electric blanket tested every three years for safety.
Wrap up warm in bed. Just because you're in bed does not mean you don't have to worry about what you are wearing. Wear warm bed garments and if you can invest in a duvet with a tog rating of 15 of higher.
Other ways to keep your home warm
Insulation makes your home warm and healthy and will also help to keep your heating costs down. It’s a good idea to draught-proofing to seal any gaps around windows and doors. Hang thick curtains up over doors and windows and if you can afford it get doubled glazing installed.You may also be able to get financial help to insulate your home so call your local council.
Close your windows. If you need fresh air go for a walk. If you leave windows open, it lets cold air in, hot air out and makes the heating work even harder to try and warm your home.
Shut the doors to any rooms that you don't use. It stops cold air from circulating around your home which reduces heat loss.Stay together with members of your family in one of the smaller rooms in your home during the day. Keep the room really warm and cosy and have a daily cosy get together.
Keeping warm outdoors
Wear plenty of thin layers, rather than one thick one especially clothes made of wool, cotton or fleecy synthetic fibres.
Also, wear opaque tights, thermal leggings or socks and to keep your legs warm. You can wear one or more pairs over each other under your clothes. Thermal vests are also very warm and you can wear them under party dresses.
Put on a coat, hat, scarf, gloves and warm shoes or boots when you go outside.
Stay healthy in winter
To reduce the risk of illness and protect yourself against the cold, you can get a flu jab or injection. The jab is free if you have serious heart, lung or kidney disease or diabetes or if you have a weak immune system, caused by disease or medical treatment or if you have had a stroke or TIA (transient ischaemic attack) or you are aged 65 years or if you are pregnant. Contact your GP or talk to your pharmacist if you think you might qualify for a free flu jab.
Eating regular meals will help keep you warm and your energy levels up during winter. Try to have plenty of hot food, soups and drinks.
Plan your meals and keep your diet as varied as possible and aim to include five portions of fruit and vegetables daily - this includes tinned and frozen fruit and vegetables.
Stay activeExercise is good for your overall health and it can keep you warm in winter. Even a small amount of exercise can bring health benefits. If possible, try to move around at least once an hour. Reduce your thermostat and go for a brisk walk around your neighbourhood when you get back you would feel warmer. If you are out and about keep moving to keep warm.
The more you are active, the better your blood circulation will be. This will mean that your blood moves round your body and gets to your fingers and toes, keeping them warm.
Hypothermia. Hypothermia is when a person gets too cold. Know the symptoms of hypothermia. Shivering can be used as a guide to how severe hypothermia is. If a person can stop shivering on their own, the hypothermia is mild. If they can’t stop shivering, it’s moderate to severe. Severe hypothermia needs urgent medical treatment in hospital.
Take a hot shower or bath. Dry yourself completely before you come out and use oil or lotion on your skin, which can be like an extra layer of clothing.
Get your slippers on. Wear two pairs of socks. Try slipper socks - socks with grips or wear Ugg boots and lay a rug or carpet in your room to keep your feet warm.
Limit steam cooking. Steam will raise the moisture level in your home, making the air dense, and you need more energy to heat humid air. Keep your kitchen door when you are cooking or limit cooking that gives off steam, as this will increase the humidity in the air and make your house damp.
After you've cooked your dinner, leave the oven door open to let heat escape and help warm up your home.
Live in a sun-bathed house. If lots of the sun's light reaches your house the temperature on the walls and inside your home increases. Remove items leaning against walls, tree branches and so on.
Wear a thick bathrobe or dressing gown throughout the day and to bed. A dressing gown acts as a big, fluffy blanket of warmth with sleeves and it is very comfortable too.
Visit friends and family. Purposefully spend time in a location that is heated at no cost to you. If you are unemployed find a job, offices are often warm, visit your local library, café, church, a friend's house.
To keep warm at home during the dayTry to heat your main living room to around 18-24°C (64-75°F) and the rest of the house to at least 16°C (61°F) especially if you have young children and elderly people in your home.
It is better to heat all the rooms you use in the day and make sure you keep your living room warm throughout the day and heat your bedroom before going to bed.
Set the timer on your heating to come on before you get up and switch off when you go to bed. In very cold weather, set the heating to come on earlier, rather than turn the thermostat up. This means you won’t be cold while you wait for your home to heat up.
Keep warm at night
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