AN amber cold weather health alert has been issued for parts of the country as the UK finds itself in the grip of a cold snap.
Plummeting temperatures could impact everyone, not just vulnerable people, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned.
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The alert covers the East Midlands, West Midlands, North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber.
A new amber alert was also issued for the East of England from 10am this morning.
Yellow alerts will be in place for the South East, South West and London from 8am tomorrow, November 19.
It comes as parts of the country grapple frost, ice and snow, with temperatures plunging as low as -3C at certain times.
Read more on cold weather
UKHSA warned freezing temperatures will likely result in more vulnerable Brits needing healthcare services.
People aged 65 and over, those with pre-existing health conditions – such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases – and people forced to sleep rough will face the highest risk from cold weather.
But the rest of the population could also be affected.
While yellow alerts are issued during periods of cold weather that pose a risk to elderly people or those with serious health conditions, amber alerts are put in place when a wider impact is expected.
It means lower temperatures could affect the whole health service as well as other sectors requiring a coordinated response.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said: “This is the first amber Cold Weather Health Alert of the season, but we can expect more as we approach winter.
“It is vital to check in on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours to ensure they are well prepared for the onset of cold weather.
“Particularly if they are elderly or otherwise at increased risk.”
UKHSA recommends you look out for older family members, friends and neighbours during cold weather by doing the following:
- 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
- Contact your local pharmacist, your GP or NHS 111 for advice and support if you’re worried about someone’s health
- Contact NHS 111 if you think someone has hypothermia 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
What yellow, amber and red cold weather health alerts mean
Under the Weather Health Alert system developed by UKHSA and the Met Office, there are three cold health alert levels that may be issued:
- Yellow alerts may be issued during periods of cold which are unlikely to impact most people, but which could pose an increased risk those who are particularly vulnerable, such as the elderly or those with significant health conditions. A yellow alert may also be issued if confidence in the weather forecast is low, but there could be more significant impacts if the worst-case scenario is realised.
- Amber alerts are issued in situations in which the expected impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service, where there is potential for the whole population to be at risk, and where other sectors apart from health may also start to observe impacts, indicating that a coordinated response is required.
- Red alerts indicate significant risk to life for even the healthy population. Impacts would be expected across all sectors with a coordinated response essential.
The amber and yellow health alerts are expected to remain in place until 6pm on Saturday, November 23.
The Met Office has warned of a “cold and unsettled week ahead”, with Brits told to brace for “disruptive snow”.
The forecaster issued several yellow weather warnings for the coming days, including rain, sleet and snow from 7pm on Monday to 10am on Tuesday from southern Scotland to north Wales and the Midlands.
An arctic chill has already seen snow blanketing parts of northern Scotland, with central areas set to see sleet and snow later tonight.
Forecasters said there is “potential” for the yellow warnings to be “escalated”.
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It comes after the mercury dropped to -3.3C in the Scottish Highlands last night.
Met Office expert Tom Morgan: “We could see some disruptive snow in the Pennine regions, in particular, the Peak District as well, especially Monday night.
“But we could well see some impacts lasting on until Tuesday morning’s rush hour.
“Even down to lower levels, we could well see some snow as well, so quite a bit of disruption is possible by Tuesday morning.
“The week ahead is likely to stay cold nationwide, a windy day tomorrow, and then winter showers through the week ahead.
“What we can say is that it’s going to be very cold for the for the time of year.
“There will be widespread overnight frosts, and a few locations where there’s snow on the ground.”
How to stay safe during cold weather
As respiratory illnesses are rife during colder weather, you can protect your health in advance by ensuring you get vaccinated to reduce your risk of getting them.
This includes getting jabs against flu, Covid-19 and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which millions of Brits are eligible to receive for free.
It’s important you get vaccinated if you have certain long-term health conditions that make you more vulnerable to the effects of cold weather.
Another way to stay healthy this winter is to tackle minor winter ailments like colds or sore throats promptly.
You can treat them at home by resting, drinking plenty of fluids and taking home remedies, but it can be helpful to visit your local pharmacist for further advice and treatment.
When you are indoors, there are things you can do that will help to keep you warm and reduce the risk of developing medical problems.
Try not to sit still for more than an hour or so, or stretch your arms and legs regularly if you find it more difficult to move.
If you have visitors, ventilate the room for a few minutes before and after they arrive to stop the spread of germs.
And if bad weather is forecast, try to plan ahead and check that you’ve got enough medication and food in case it’s harder to leave the house.
How to keep warm at home
You should heat your home to a temperature that is comfortable for you.
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 and your home warm:
- Try to heat rooms you spend a lot of time in, such as the living room or bedroom, to at least 18C
- Try to reduce draughts; you can fit draft excluders around doors cheaply
- Keep your bedroom windows closed at night
- Wear several layers of thinner clothing; this could keep you warmer than one thicker layer.
You should also try not to sit still for more than an hour or so and stretch your limbs regularly.
It is also important to get vaccinated to help reduce your risk of respiratory illnesses, to treat minor ailments like sore throats and colds quickly, and to call NHS 111 or 999 in an emergency if you need to.
Source: UKHSA
