Staying Safe at Home

Different seasons bring different challenges to staying safe and healthy in adverse temperatures. On this page, you will find some hints and tips to help you stay cool in summer and stay warm in winter.

Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire

As it continues to turn colder, more people will begin to worry about their energy bills. The cost-of-living crisis is squeezing household incomes tighter than ever and energy is a growing concern.  At Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire, we can offer energy advice.  Our Adviser can help with energy savings tips, ensuring people are getting all the help they need from their supplier and identifying any grants or available support.  'To refer someone for an energy advice appointment, please complete the link below

https://www.citizensadvicesouthlincs.org.uk/energy-referral-form/​

This is subject to adviser availability. We will keep you updated if demand exceeds resource

Keeping warm in winter

Staying warm in winter is really important in order to prevent colds, flus, and more serious health conditions. If you are over 65, have a long term health condition, or are disabled you are much more vulnerable to cold-related illnesses.

There are many ways you can keep yourself healthy and warm in winter. Some ways include:

• keeping your home at 18C
• wear warm clothes, lots of thin layers made from cotton, wool or fleecy fibres
• staying active, try not to sit still for more than an hour or so
• if you have heart or breathing problems, stay inside during a cold period as much as possible
• having hot meals and drinks regularly throughout the day
• keeping basic food items in your cupboard or freezer for when it is too cold to go outside
• order groceries online or use a Meals on Wheels service
• using either a hot water bottle or electric blanket (not both) to keep you warm in bed
• getting your heating system and electric blankets serviced to ensure they are running safely and efficiently
• visit your GP and ask about cold and flu medication or vaccines

Staying cool in summer

Keeping cool in summer is really important to prevent dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. If you are over 75, have a long term or serious health condition, have a mobility problem or are taking medication which affects your body’s temperature control, you are more vulnerable.

There are many ways you can keep cool and comfortable in hot weather. These are some ways you can reduce risks to your health and stay cool:

• Avoid being in the sun between 11am and 3pm
• Wear loose, cool clothing and a lightweight hat, such as a straw hat, if you go outdoors
• Have cool baths or showers, and splash yourself with cool water throughout the day
• If you are at home, spend the hottest part of the day in the coolest part of your home
• Shut windows and close shades when it’s hotter. If it’s cooler or breezy then you can open the window for ventilation
• Use light coloured curtains and keep them closed. Metallic blinds or dark curtains can make the room hotter
• Turn off appliances you don’t need or aren’t using
• Keep cooking to a minimum and prepare cold foods
• Plan ahead to make sure you have enough supplies of food, drink, medication etc.
• Drink cold water or fruit juice regularly, and avoid tea, coffee and alcohol

Always seek medical help if you are worried that someone has dehydration, heat exhaustion, or heatstroke.

Save money on Energy

A Winter Fuel Payment is available to help you pay your heating bills if you were born on or before 5th May 1953 (this date changes every year).

A Cold Weather Payment may be available to you if you are in receipt of certain benefits. You will get £25 each time your local temperature is either recorded or forecast to be an average of 0C or below over seven consecutive days.

Under the Warm Homes Discount Scheme you could get £150 off your electricity bill for the forthcoming winter if you are on a low income, you receive certain means-tested benefits and your energy supplier is part of the scheme.  But you need to apply now! Check with your supplier as soon as possible as the number of discounts they offer are limited and issued on a first come, first served basis. Once they are gone, the scheme closes.  The scheme opened on Monday 16th October 2023, and many energy suppliers are already accepting a high number of applications. Don’t miss out! To check if your supplier offers the Warm Homes Discount for the 2023/24 scheme visit www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme.  Alternatively telephone your supplier. If you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit you don’t need to do anything as the discount will be automatically applied to your bill. The Warm Homes Discount scheme is a Government scheme that is applied as a one-off discount on your electricity bill.

The Energy Saving Trust has advice on how to reduce your energy bills. It also has information about current UK grants and schemes.

By switching your energy supplier you can save money. Ofgem has a list of accredited energy comparison sites. This means that all the prices you find will be calculated and displayed in a fair and unbiased way.

Resources for people struggling to pay their energy bills. 

Home | Fuel Bank Foundation

Winter Fuel Payment

Winter Fuel Payment helps older people with their heating bills - claim form, how much you get, eligibility. The deadline to make a claim for winter 2021 to 2022 is 31 March 2022.

Grants and benefits to help you pay your energy bills - Citizens Advice

Grants, benefits and other support, including Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payment.

Chancellor unveils up to £350 in support per household to help mitigate rocketing energy prices (moneysavingexpert.com)