Be Prepared For The Cold Spell
We need to take extra care during the winter months. Icy conditions, shorter daylight hours, and the cold weather, can significantly increase the risk of falls and injuries.
Taking the steps to reduce the risk of a fall, and maintaining good health is particularly important, for older adults, those who have mobility challenges, and for those who are medically vulnerable.
Here are a few tips to help you stay safe, healthy and mobile, during the tough winter months.
Keep Your Home Warm
- Ensure all exposed pipes are adequately insulated.
- Check that attic insulation is thick and in good condition. Open attic trap door to allow heat in.
- Leave heating on for longer periods at lower settings.
- Fit draught excluders to your doors and windows.
- Make sure heating equipment is well-maintained, vented correctly and working properly.
- Fit your water tank with an insulation jacket.
- Have sufficient fuel supplies, to maintain adequate heating.
- Know how to turn off the water supply (usually under the kitchen sink).
If you are leaving your property unattended for a period of more than a day or two, you should shut off the water supply to the property, from the external stopcock (while ensuring that any water-dependent appliances or facilities are also shut-off).
- If you have a meter installed by Irish Water, a frost plug has been inserted in the meter boundary box to prevent the meter and stop-cock from freezing. If no meter is installed by Irish Water, to prevent stopcocks freezing, open the stopcock chamber and remove any water. Fill the chamber with non-absorbent material to provide insulation. Do not use absorbent material as it too will freeze when wet. Do not leave taps running as this merely wastes a valuable resource.
- Repair any leaks at taps or valves
- Ensure chimneys are cleaned at least once a year
Useful References and Resource
www.gov.ie – Be Winter Ready
gov.ie - Health Advice from the HSE - Be Winter Ready
hse.ie Avoid Slips, trips and falls during the cold snap https://about.hse.ie/news/avoid-slips-trips-and-falls-during-the-cold-snap/
www. Met.ie – National and Regional Weather forecasts
www.theaa.com Road traffic news
