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DS Risk Warning: Weather; Cold Temperatures

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 Hello all,


An AMBER warning has been issued with a matrix score of 12, which runs from today at 12PM on the 02/01/2025 until 12PM on 08/01/2025, across the South West.  


The warning comes from the following:

https://ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk/weather-health-alerts/cold/south-west


Here's the grid:


Very low impacts


Low impacts


Medium impacts


High impacts


High likelihood

4

(green)

8

(yellow)

13

(amber)

16

(red)

Medium likelihood

3

(green)

7

(yellow)

12

(amber)

15

(amber)

Low likelihood

2

(green)

6

(green)

10

(yellow)

14

(amber)

Very low likelihood

1

(green)

5

(green)

9

(yellow)

11

(yellow)


They advise:


Forecast weather is likely to cause significant impacts across health and social care services, including:

  • a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. We may also see impacts on younger age groups

  • a likely increase in demand for health services

  • temperatures inside places like hospitals, care homes, and clinics dropping below the levels recommended for assessing health risks

  • challenges keeping indoor temperatures at the recommended 18°C leading to more risk to vulnerable people

  • staffing issues due to external factors (such as travel delays)

  • other sectors starting to observe impacts (such as transport and energy)

NB: 

1. the Health and Safety Executive Approved Code of Practice on the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations, suggests the minimum temperature for working indoors should normally be at least 16C, or 13C if much of the work involves rigorous physical effort.


2. it is a good idea to consider whether your system may need additional time, when moving from defrost tickover, to heating mode, to give it additional time to do so, say from Sunday evening, or very early Monday morning. 


3. there is further advice and guidance available from the agencies:

How to take action if you have a duty to respond

Please review the Weather Health Alert System user guidance to explain how you can use the information contained within the alerts to respond to the forecast weather.

We provide guidance on how to take action for a range of professional groups with a duty to respond, with action cards available for health and social care providers, and the voluntary and community sector. Summary action cards are also available below:


How to protect yourself if you are vulnerable:


While exposure to cold weather can affect anyone, some people are particularly at risk. We have published guidance on staying safe during cold weather.


Planning for adverse weather


Don't forget to refer to and share our annual guidance, we issued it late Nov, early Dec 24. If you can't find your copy, do ask?


Bill

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