Protect your Property this Winter

Tips & advice on protecting your property & Who is at risk?

Regular maintenance

• Ensure heating systems receive regular maintenance • Check and ensure all at risk water pipes and taps are properly lagged.

• Check for leaks and drips especially from overflows

• Ensure you are familiar with the location of stopcocks for your property including external buildings

Unattended property

• Ensure heating system thermostats are working and remain on at around 10˚c during the day or that there are sufficient levels of Oil/LPG in the tanks to fuel the heating system

• Turn off the water supply at the stopcocks and at any external isolation valves to other external buildings

• Open hatches to loft spaces to allow warmer air to circulate

• If the property is going to be unattended for a longer period, open taps in toilets and kitchens to drain water from pipes

On your return to the building

• Keep water supplies turned off until temperatures are at normal levels and check for leakage as pipes warm up

• Close all taps and open the stopcocks and check for leaks

In the event of an emergency

• If a pipe had fractured, do not turn the water supply back on and contact a plumber. Use local newspapers, yellow pages, the internet or personal recommendations for contact details.

Grit stock (premises only)

• If you are responsible for premises such as schools or care homes, please ensure that you order your salt-grit stock in early to help with your exterior environment clear of snow and ice.

Keep warm and well this winter– preventing hypothermia

What is Hypothermia?

Hypothermia is a dangerous drop in body temperature below 35˚C (95˚F). Normal body temperature is around 37˚C (98.6˚F). Hypothermia can be serious if not treated quickly. You should call 999 and give first aid if you notice signs of hypothermia.

Who’s at risk?

Some groups of people are more vulnerable to hypothermia.

• They include:

• babies and children – they lose heat faster than adults

• older people who are inactive and don’t eat well

• heavy alcohol and drug users – their bodies lose heat faster

Check in on elderly neighbours regularly during cold weather to make sure their home is warm.

The government offers a winter fuel payment for older people to help them pay their heating bills.

Symptoms of hypothermia

Early signs of hypothermia include:

• shivering

• cold and pale skin

• slurred speech

• fast breathing

• tiredness

• confusion

• If their temperature drops to 32˚C or lower, they’ll usually stop shivering completely and may pass out.

• This is a sign that their condition is getting worse and emergency medical help is needed.

Hypothermia in babies

• Babies with hypothermia may look healthy, but their skin will feel cold. They may also be limp, unusually quiet and refuse to feed.

Poster: Protect your property this winter.pdf