Keeping warm and well in the cold weather

BAD weather can be a hazard for vulnerable people or those with long term health conditions. With weather warnings in place and frosty temperatures forecast for this week, Sefton residents are being asked to look out for their relatives, friends and neighbours, and to follow the NHS advice on keeping safe and well.

Keep warm... If you are aged 65 or have long term conditions such as heart or kidney disease, diabetes or breathing conditions, try to keep warm by heating your home to at least 18°C (65°F). You should also wear several layers of light clothes to keep warm, as multiple layers will trap warm air better than one bulky layer of clothing.

Keeping warm over the winter months can also help us all to prevent colds, flu and more serious health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia and depression. Have at least one hot meal a day and have hot drinks regularly. Sefton has a Warm Spaces programme, with locations for individuals and families to visit to keep warm throughout the winter. You can view an interactive map and daily timetable of Warm Spaces across the borough as well as more information about the initiative at:- SeftonCVS.Org.UK/WarmSpaces.

If you do go outside during, cold, wet and windy weather, remember to wear shoes with a good grip to prevent slips and falls. If possible, stay inside during a cold period if you have heart or respiratory problems.

Be prepared... Ensure you have stocked your cupboards with food and medications in advance, to avoid going out in the bad weather. There are a variety of items available at your local Pharmacy that you can have at home to keep healthy and treat minor illnesses, such as:- pain relief medications, lozenges, cold and cough syrups, antihistamines, and much more.

Cold weather can also increase your risk for respiratory infections such as flu and Covid19 and getting vaccinated is the best protection against both viruses. It's important to get both vaccines when you're eligible.

Susanne Lynch MBE, head of medicines management for Sefton, said:- "Help and advice is available from local Pharmacies in Sefton, and through programmes such as Care at the Chemist where you can get treatment for minor illnesses without the need to visit your GP 1st. Cold weather can impact your health so it is important to check in on everyone in our local communities and if you do become ill we ask that you think about self care, contacting NHS 111 for non-emergencies and speaking to your local pharmacist."

Where to get help... If you have an urgent medical problem, but not an emergency, get help from NHS 111 by visiting:- 111.NHS.UK online, or calling:- 111. You can also access NHS advice and information at:- NHS.UK.

For urgent consultations, advice and treatment for minor injuries and illnesses in both children and adults, the Litherland Urgent Treatment Centre, on Hatton Hill Road, is open:- 7 days a week, from 8am until 8pm. You can make an appointment via NHS 111, or walk in without an appointment.

For treatment and medications without the need to visit your GP, the Care at the Chemist scheme is available in 31 participating pharmacies across Sefton, for common illnesses and conditions such as coughs, colds, fever, headaches, sore throat and many more. The medicines are prescribed free of charge for anyone who does not pay for their prescriptions. Those who do pay will be charged the current prescription charge, or lower if they are cheaper to buy over the counter.

If you are worried about keeping warm and paying your fuel bills you can contact the Council's Affordable Warmth Service on:- 01519342222 or the local Energy Advice Freephone line on:- 08000430151.

Angela White OBE, chief executive of Sefton CVS said:- "During the upcoming cold weather, we encourage everyone to look out for one another in our communities, especially for vulnerable residents and neighbours or those living alone. Encourage anyone vulnerable to come along to our network of Warm Spaces available across Sefton over the winter months for those who may be struggling to heat their homes. Some sites offer a 'basic' warm space whilst others offer an:- 'enhanced' warm space with food and activities. If you're worried about a relative or an elderly neighbour, contact your local Council or ring the Age UK helpline on:- 08006781602."

Also, in case of Power Cuts, if you are classed as vulnerable, we strongly suggest you make sure you are registered for extra help. To find out more, please go to:- ENWL.Co.UK/Extracare or call:- 08001954141, then press option 4 and then option 3. This is free to register. You can also report any Power Outages in England via calling:- 105.

Scientists advise Christmas shoppers to wash their hands to help prevent the spread of bacteria to the vulnerable

HEALTH Chiefs are warning Christmas shoppers to massively step up their hand hygiene after a public health study identified thousands of bacteria living on self checkouts, including those normally associated with faeces. Microbes that are commonly found in the intestines and can lead to urinary tract infections (UTIs) were also discovered on swabs taken at self service points across a number of UK stores as part of the project.  With the festive shopping period in full swing and time poor consumers opting for speedy self service checkouts, the Champs Public Health Collaborative is calling on people to take extra care to protect themselves and others as we prepare for the annual spike of winter illnesses such as Norovirus and flu.  As part of the experiment, scientists analysed 19 swabs from a range of other everyday objects, such as:- escalator handrails, public toilet door handles, as well as office computer keyboards, pets and pet toys.

Following examination, the samples revealed thousands of bacteria, including E. coli; a bacteria that can lead to a range of gastro intestinal illnesses; being present on almost all objects investigated.  A bug commonly found in the vagina, mouth, throat and gut called Candida albicans, which has the potential to cause a yeast infection, was discovered on an escalator handrail, while intestinal microbes that can cause a range of infections in humans, including UTIs were found on computer keyboards.

Dr Adam Roberts, 1 of the Chief Researchers within the Infection Innovation Consortium (iiCON), which is led by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), produced the analysis of the bacteria. Adam, Reader in antimicrobial chemotherapy and resistance at LSTM, said:- "We live in a bacterial world; bacteria and microbes are everywhere, and we come into contact with them all day, every day. It's vital to try to minimise their effects in terms of infection prevention and control, so when we touch our mouths or go to the toilet and don't wash our hands, we've likely got bacteria from these places on our hands which can then transfer to other things; and subsequently to other people. If those individuals are more susceptible to infection than you are, there may be a problem. The self checkout samples had one of the highest bacterial loads, as we found 5 different types of potential disease-causing bacteria surviving on them. This included Enterococcus which is found in human faeces and, while this is usually harmless, it can of course lead to disease, particularly in those who may have weakened immune systems. We found multiple examples of E. coli and a bacteria called Klebsiella on computer keyboards. While both exist naturally in faeces and intestines, given the right environment, they are able to cause quite severe diseases in humans, so it's vital that we wash our hands before and after eating when working at the computer."

Now, as we head further into winter and prepare for a range of infectious diseases to soar, medical experts at Champs Public Health Collaborative; a public health partnership between nine Directors of Public Health across Cheshire and Merseyside – are urging us all to be extra vigilant and keep washing our hands regularly. It comes as part of a wider campaign, Simple Things, which was launched after researchers found that two thirds of people are worried about the spread of infectious diseases this winter, with younger people having the most concerns. The Simple Things initiative calls on people to practise 4 key measures to prevent the spread of winter illness; hand washing, sanitising surfaces, keeping distance when unwell and covering sneezes or coughs.

Matt Ashton, Director of Public Health for Liverpool, is now urging those with vulnerable loved ones in particular to take extra care and ensure their hands are clean before coming into contact with them. He said:- "Our results showed that there are multiple bacteria living on objects that we touch every single day. These bacteria are completely invisible to the naked eye; surfaces may look clean but can be covered in bacteria. But there are simple things we can do to prevent the spread of them and stop the transfer completing its cycle. This is particularly important if you are visiting vulnerable relatives in Hospitals and care homes, for example. Hospital admissions for illnesses like Norovirus and flu always spike at this time of year, but we can take steps to reduce how quickly germs transfer from one person to another, by simply keeping our hands clean; washing them after going to the bathroom and before and after we eat."

For more information about the Simple Things campaign, visit:- SimpleThings-NHS.Com.