Top Tips For Keeping Warm in The Colder Months

Introduction

With the colder months, shorter days and darker nights fast approaching, now is the perfect time to start preparing to keep yourself and loved ones warm. The drop in temperature can affect our health, especially when we get older. As we age, our immune systems are not what they used to be; we are less able to fight off colds and viruses and we become more vulnerable to the cold, this is due to the fact we are less able to preserve heat and circulate it around our bodies.

As there is a beginning of a chill in the air, follow our tips to keep yourself or a loved warm this chilly season!

Wrap Up Warm!

Our first tip is to wrap yourself up warm, by wearing several thin layers made of cotton, wool and thermal materials, as layers trap heat much better than just one thick layer. Throw on an extra layer like a cardigan, jumper or even wrap yourself up in your house coat or dressing gown. The kids are loving Snoodies at the moment, which is a wearable blanket with sleeves and a hood and there is no reason you can’t wear one!  Drape yourself with a shawl or blanket with your feet tucked in, as the floor is cooler, especially if you have wooden flooring. Make sure you are wrapping up especially warm when you leave the house, but if you have heart or health conditions don’t venture out on the coldest of the days.

Remember not to stay seated for too long and stretch your legs every hour or so, this will also get the blood pumping. Wear thick thermal socks, slippers with a good grip, or slipper boots as our feet are often the coldest part of the body. This is because the feet are furthest from the heart and the heart has to work much harder to pump warm blood to our toes. Wear thermal pyjamas and non-slip bed socks if you find your feet are feeling the chill.

Daily exercise will aid in keeping you warm whilst also being beneficial to your health and is completely free! Eat well, by enjoying warm meals such as stews, soups, casseroles and curries with plenty of carbohydrates you are providing the body with all important energy. Be sure to consume hot drinks throughout the day too, why not try out new flavours of hot chocolate, there are so many options to choose from. You can use a thermos to keep your drinks warm and save trips to the kitchen too.

Create A Warm Environment

The NHS advise that 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.

Keeping windows and doors shut will help maintain a consistent and warm temperature.

Have the heating on in the room you spend the most time in and turn it off in the rooms you do not use to save on energy, but still make sure your bedroom is warm for bedtime.

Close your curtains when it is dark to act as draught excluders and retain heat, but do have them open through the day to let in the warming sunlight.

Some useful items you can purchase include:

• Key hole covers - they are a cheap way to stop air creeping in through keyhole.
• Radiator heat reflectors - reduces heat loss from radiators by reflecting the heat back into the room.
• Electric blanket, brushed cotton and fleece bedding.
• Hot water bottles, microwaveable heat packs.  
• Draught excluders for doors

Make Preparations

Make sure you have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. If you use a wood burner, confirm you have enough fuel to cover you over the coldest days and festive period. Have your boiler and radiators serviced in the summer months to ensure they are in fully working order. It is also a good idea to seal any cracks with caulk in preparation for the colder months.

Make sure your prescriptions are available to you in good time in case of bad weather stopping you from being able to refill on vital medications. Stock up the freezer so you always have meals in, just in case you can’t get out due to weather conditions.

Remember to check on any vulnerable family members, friends or neighbours to ensure they are safe and well in the colder months, ensuring they have plenty of food and medications they need.