British Red Cross urges communities to prepare as cold weather health alerts issued

With fresh weather warnings now in force across parts of the UK, the British Red Cross is urging people to take simple steps to prepare for worsening conditions over the coming days.  

The Met Office has issued yellow warnings across Scotland and northern England from Thursday evening into Friday, with Arctic air expected to send temperatures to around 3 to 6C below the average. The UK's Health Security Agency has also issued yellow cold-weather alerts across northern England and the Midlands, extending from 6:00am GMT Friday to 8:00am Monday, warning of likely impacts on people’s health and wellbeing.  

The British Red Cross is encouraging people - particularly those who are vulnerable, live alone, or rely on regular care - to plan ahead, check in regularly with family and friends, and ensure they are prepared for the colder weather.  

See more: How to prepare for emergencies

Eleanor Stack, British Red Cross UK Operations Lead, said: "With multiple yellow weather warnings for snow and ice on Thursday and Friday, our teams are on standby again.  

“From our previous experience responding to cold winter conditions, we know that early preparation can reduce risks to health and wellbeing. As temperatures are expected to fall this weekend, there are some simple steps everyone can take to prepare – this includes checking your home heating, finding ways to keep warm and preventing water pipes from freezing. Also consider more vulnerable people known to you and more widely in your communities and how you can help them prepare for the colder weather. 

"Your travel might be disrupted by severe winter weather too. Consider whether you really need to travel or if you should wait until conditions improve, especially if the weather is severe. You should especially bear this in mind when travelling with people who may need more help such as younger children or older people. Always check the weather forecast and travel updates and think about planning alternative routes in case you need them.” 

How to prepare for the winter weather

Before severe winter weather 

• Check for severe weather warnings from the Met Office and sign up for local weather alerts. 
• Before winter sets in, make sure your home heating system is working efficiently. Consider buying portable gas or oil-fired heaters for emergencies 
• Plan alternative ways to keep warm if your home heating is disrupted, such as extra blankets and hot water bottles.
• If you’re going away during a cold spell, set the heating to come on occasionally.

During severe winter weather 

• Check regularly on elderly friends, neighbours and relatives. See if they need help staying warm, getting provisions or clearing their pathway of snow. 
• Listen to local news channels for useful information and updates. 
• Wear a hat: most heat escapes from the head.
• Keep pets inside during winter weather. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas, and make sure they have access to food and water.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful household chemicals out of the reach of children.
• Keep the thermostat set to a steady temperature during the day and at night. This might mean a slightly higher heating bill, but should prevent much more costly repairs due to burst pipes.
• Remember that running water, even at a trickle, helps prevent pipes from freezing.
• Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
• All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside and kept clear.

If travelling 

• Have an emergency car kit ready. You’ll most probably need an ice scraper and de-icer, a snow shovel, a map in case you need to find your way around diversions, a blanket and warm clothes, a first aid kit, a torch and radio with spare batteries for both, and jump leads in case your car or another driver’s car breaks down and you need to jump start it.  
• Avoid driving in conditions such as snow, sleet, drizzle, freezing rain or dense fog. 
• Think carefully and consider whether your journey can wait until conditions improve. Also think about alternative ways of getting to and from your destination. 
• Take along warm clothing and extra blankets for all those travelling. Clothing should include warm coats, hats, gloves and boots. 
• Always tell someone where you are going. 
• Charge your mobile before setting off. 
• If you break down or get stuck in snow, don’t leave your car: it will get noticed before you. Don’t run your car’s engine for more than a minutes at a time and make sure the exhaust isn’t blocked with snow.  

About the British Red Cross

For over 150 years, the British Red Cross has helped people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. With millions of volunteers in over 190 countries, the British Red Cross is part of an international humanitarian Movement that’s there for people before, during and after a crisis. Together, we are the world’s emergency responders. www.redcross.org.uk