Cold weather advice

Make sure you're prepared for colder weather - the main risks of ill-health in cold weather are:

• poor quality and cold homes
• infections such as flu and norovirus
• physical hazards such as snow and ice.

Lung conditions

Cold weather can be especially difficult for those who have conditions which affect their lungs, such as COPD or asthma. Asthma+Lung provides guidance to help.

Keep warm at home

Low indoor temperatures can have a serious impact on your health, especially if you have medical conditions or are older. Simple changes can help to keep you warm and reduce the risk of developing medical problems:

• heat the rooms you spend a lot of time in (e.g. such as the living room or bedroom to at least 18c)
• wearing several layers of thinner clothing can keep you warmer than one thicker layer
• try not to sit still for more than an hour - even stretching your arms and legs can also help keep you warm
• If you have visitors, ventilate the room for a few minutes before and after they arrive to stop the spread of germs (you can also leave the window open during their visit, if it’s not too cold)

People in financial difficulty may find it more difficult to heat their homes sufficiently,  this increases the risk of becoming unwell due to cold exposure. There are warm spaces to help keep you warm and grants, benefits and sources of advice available to help you make your home more energy efficient, improve your heating or help manage energy bills. 

Bad weather

When out and about, wear shoes with good grip to avoid slips and falls on slippery or icy surfaces.

If bad weather is forecast, plan ahead and check that you’ve got enough medication and food in case it’s harder to leave the house. If you can't leave the house, try to identify others who might be able to help pick up food and medication on your behalf.

The NHS CARE Volunteer Responders scheme may be able to provide help for those who are eligible for support.

Supporting others

Other people around you, particularly older neighbours, family friends and neighbours, may need extra support during cold weather.

To support others you can:

• keep in touch with them and ask whether they are feeling unwell, or whether they need any practical help
• if bad weather is forecast, see if they need any help stocking up on food and medication
• if you are worried about someone else’s health, contact your local pharmacist, your GP or NHS 111, who will all be able to offer advice and support
• if you think they may have hypothermia, contact NHS 111 for further assessment, and in an emergency dial 999 - typical signs that someone may be suffering from hypothermia include shivering, slow breathing, tiredness or confusion, and pale, cold skin

Last updated 18 November 2024