STAY SAFE
THIS WINTER
Brace yourself, winter is coming...
Look after your health this winter...
Steps you should take now to prepare for winter...
We are so reliant on the internet, but if winter weather results in power & mobile phone networks being affected, what would you do?
You might need a battery charger, perhaps even a generator, and you could store key information such as the power cut helpline telephone number (105) on your phone.
Find out more about dealing with a power cut.
Cold weather can be a risk to your health, particularly if you are over 65 or have health conditions. Ideally your home (and those of elderly relatives & neighbours) should be heated to at least 18°C. During cold spells, keep your windows closed at night as this can cause a real drop in the temperature indoors, and if you have a heating boiler consider getting it serviced before the cold weather arrives.
Find out more about heating your home.
Think about what may be impacted by strong winds or flooding. In windy weather surprising things can become dangerous. Trees or branches can come down, cast iron guttering and roof slates can be lethal. Garden furniture, children’s toys and trampolines can fly around causing damage and potential harm and fences can become a problem too.
Read more about preparing your property for winter weather and storms.
Insulating pipes has two benefits, you keep the heat in – saving you money – but also reduce the risk of frozen pipes which can burst, causing flooding, damage and leaving your home without water. It’s also important to know where your stoptap (also called stopcock or stop valve) is and to check it regularly to make sure it is working. This will enable you to turn off the water to your home quickly should there be a problem.
It’s worth thinking about how you might get to work in the event of severe weather. Sometimes roads may be more affected than the rail network, but on other occasions the opposite may be true. You may also be able to use a bus if the main roads are clear. Think about whether there’s an option for you to work from home if travel is not advised? You should also think about alternative childcare options if schools or nurseries are closed.
Make sure you have basic supplies in case you have to leave home quickly or your power and water are disrupted. It’s worth putting together a ‘grab-bag’ with bottled water, snacks, medicines, a torch, radio and batteries, some cash, copies of important documents, a change of clothes, some essential toiletries, and a mobile phone and charger.
If you’re healthy you will usually shake off the flu within a couple of weeks, but for the young and old and those with chronic health conditions, flu can be very serious.
We sent you an e-voucher to allow you to have a flu vaccination administered free of charge at a pharmacy local to you, at your convenience.
Check out our flu vaccination page for details.
Learn about flu symptoms, the common cold and chest colds.
Not everyone is able to access the help or information they may require to keep them safe and well in winter. It’s nice to be neighbourly and the human contact with others can have really positive effects for everyone. You may be able to help your neighbour with an important job to prepare for winter, or your neighbour may be able to help you. Just taking time to make contact will be appreciated.
There are lots of things you could do to help your community, particularly if severe weather hits. Find out about getting involved in community emergency preparedness groups.
Winter comes with a higher risk of health issues. Being cold can raise the risk of higher blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes. The cold, damp weather can aggravate existing health problems, making you more vulnerable to respiratory winter illnesses, but there are things you can do to stay well…
With busy lives, it’s sometimes difficult to find time to make preparations, but checking that your car is winter-ready is a really important job to do. Breakdowns or accidents caused by unsafe tyres will be at minimum an inconvenience, and at worst could be deadly. Make sure you’re one step ahead of cold and snowy winter weather by doing a few simple checks on your vehicle today. Visit our dedicated WINTER DRIVING page for details.
Things to do ahead of a weather event
You might not be able to do all of these things but doing even a few can help make you more resilient.
SIGN UP FOR FLOOD ALERTS
Sign up to get notified when the area you live, work, or travel through is at risk of flooding. If you know there is a flood risk, you can get sandbags from local council roads depots. Some local community groups also have them.
SIGN UP FOR SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS
Get severe weather warnings and sign up to Met Office alerts, including text alerts or via Twitter. The Met office also provide advice on preparing yourself, home, and vehicles for all weather conditions.
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice
GET ONTO THE PRIORITY SERVICES REGISTER (PSR)
The Priority Services Register is a free UK wide service which provides extra help to those that need it during power cuts or when there’s an interruption to your electricity, gas or water supply.
DOWNLOAD THE POWER TRACK APP
SSEN Distribution looks after the wires and cables that bring electricity to your home. Download SSEN’s free Power Track app for local power cut information and updates or visit:
https://powertrack.ssen.co.uk/powertrack
EXTRA USEFUL CONTACT DETAILS
All Emergency Services: 999 or 112
Police Non- Emergency: 101
NHS 24: 111
SSEN Power Cut line: 105
Scottish Water: 0800 0778 778
Emergency council housing repairs: 03456 08 12 03
Emergency social care: 03456 08 12 06
Home Emergency Plan
If it is not safe to go out, then:
Go indoors and close all the windows and doors
Stay indoors
Stay up to date using radio, TV or online
If there is no power, an FM radio powered by battery, solar or wind-up will keep you informed, including car radios.
Write down the frequencies for resilient radio channels in advance – BBC Radio 2 (88-91 FM) and BBC Radio 4 (92-95 FM, 103-104 FM) – and keep these notes in a place which is easy to access in the dark.
Download your Home Emergency Plan template below to create your own, personal emergency plan, with key details and contacts in one safe place.
We've got your back this winter...
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