Keep warm this winter

HEALTH chiefs are advising Warrington people to be prepared for winter and to keep warm, well and safe.
The Primary Care Trust has published a free Winter Warm directory providing information on how to cope as the temperatures drop. It is a comprehensive guide to services that may be needed during colder weather.
It also features practical advice and useful information, such as top tips for keeping warm and well and illustrations of simple exercises that can be done at home.
NHS Warrington has also developed a Be Prepared checklist offering advice on preparing homes and planning ahead for winter.
It includes getting boilers serviced and electrical items checked – including electric blankets which should be checked every three years. It also says that appliances should be regularly serviced to minimise the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The guide says that room temperature should be kept at 21 °C, which will keep rooms warm and bills low.
It says if people cannot afford to heat all rooms they should heat the living room and bedrooms. It adds that closing curtains and shutting doors will also help to keep the heat in.
Loft, cavity wall insulation and draught proofing are also suggested to keep homes warm and help reduce bills.
The guide says there are grants, benefits and advice on making homes energy efficient. People over 60 and those in receipt of other benefits may be eligible for grants.
Advice on benefit entitlement is available by calling Warm Front free on 0800 3162805, and advice on energy saving is available from the Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre on 0800 512 012.
The directory and advice is available on the website http://www.warrington pct.nhs.uk/health&wellbeing/seasonalflu&winterwarm.html or by calling 01942 843721.