Get ready and stay well this winter
As the nights draw in and temperatures drop there are a number of things we can do to help prepare for the winter. We are committed to help ensuring that Eastleigh Borough residents are safe and well looked after, and that our communities keep as well as possible during the colder months.
The information provided below is designed to provide residents with some useful information and signpost them to the help and support they may need.
Don’t miss your flu vaccination
All local residents who are at increased risk from flu or who care for someone vulnerable should be encouraged to receive their flu vaccine as early as possible. New strains of flu circulate each year and the vaccine is effective in protecting against the highly infectious virus this winter. The vaccine gives good protection and lasts for one year.
Find out more www.nhs.uk/staywell
Connect to support Hampshire
This easy-to-use online resource helps residents with their care and wellbeing by providing information about all aspects of independent living, such as advice about mental health and physical health, help and support for carers, and equipment to help people manage at home. The website and app include:
- A directory of local services, activities, charities and helplines to support individuals with specific needs
- A directory of Care Quality Commission-registered home care agencies and links to other care options for personal and nursing care in people’s homes
- A directory of registered care homes and nursing homes in Hampshire.
To download the app, simply search for ‘Connect to Support Hampshire’ in the App Store (for Apple iPhones or iPads) or the Google Play Store (for Android smartphones and tablets).
Hitting the cold spots
If you know of anyone in your community who will struggle to keep warm this winter, please signpost them to the Hitting the Cold Spots service. The service provides detailed advice over the phone or via email for anyone wanting information on:
- Heating systems, including when they are broken
- Insulation
- Energy bill worries including fuel debt
- The Warm Home Discount
- Tariff switching
Find out more
Stay well and healthy this winter
There’s lots of great advice available to help the Borough’s residents to stay well and healthy during the colder months. If people start to feel unwell, they shouldn’t wait until it gets more serious. Please signpost people to their local pharmacist first.
https://beta.nhs.uk/find-a-pharmacy/
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/keep-warm-keep-well/
Follow these simple top tips
Follow these simple steps for a warm, comfortable and hassle free winter.
- Check your radiators. If a radiator is colder at the top than at the bottom this usually means it needs bleeding.
- 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).
- Insulate any exposed piping: If you have any exposed water pipes in uninsulated spaces, make sure to insulate them with foam insulating sleeves.
- Keep gutters clear of fallen leafs and other debris.
- Trim any overgrown branches near the house to prevent wind-swept branches from causing property damage.
- Make sure you put a blanket or sleeping bag in your car, along with a torch, snacks, ice scraper, shovel, antifreeze and extra screen wash.