Risks

For more information about:

• Fire prevention
• Fire safety tips for home and work

Please visit the Department for Communities and Local Government website about fire safety in the home (opens new window).

• Flu is an infectious and common viral illness spread by coughs and sneezes
• It is not the same as the common cold
• Flu is caused by a different group of viruses
• Symptoms tend to be more severe and last longer

For more information about prevention, symptoms and treatment of all types of flu, please visit NHS Choices – seasonal flu (opens new window).

• A power cut can mean that temperatures in your home drop significantly
• If power is out for long enough it could also mean that the food in your fridge and freezer also perishes
• Scottish and Southern Energy provide a live power outages map (opens new window) on their website.  
• There is also an app available for download for your smart phone called 'Power Track'
• There is now a dedicated national number (105) that will take you straight to your local power supplier if your ever in need of information in a power cut

• You are able to register on the Citizens advice: Getting extra support from your energy supplier (Priority Services Register) (opens new window) with your local utility companies (electric, water and gas)
• This exists to aid those who could be made vulnerable by a power outage
• If you feel you are eligible to be on the register or would like more information on the requirements, please contact your supplies using the number on your bill

Cold weather can affect both your health and your day-to-day life

It is important to stay warm in the winter

• Keeping warm can help prevent:
• colds,
• flu

More serious health conditions such as

• Heart attacks
• Strokes
• Pneumonia
• Depression

If you drive, make sure that any journeys you take when it is cold or snowy are essential.

The Highway Code (opens new window) has advice on driving in adverse weather conditions.

To find out how to keep warm and stay well in the cold weather, visit NHS Choices: Stay warm, stay well (opens new window).

Check with your friends and neighbours - will any of them need extra help with shopping or just getting around if it snows?

Wiltshire Council has a Warm and Well service, which you can contact by phone on 0800 500 30 76, by texting WARM to 83010 or visiting the Warm and Well website (opens new window).

As we have seen recently, flooding can have a huge impact on those living in vulnerable areas.
The link below will help you find out if you are in a flood risk zone, and what you can do to protect your home and your family.

You can find out if your home is in a flood zone (opens new window), if you are, you can sign up to flood alerts. Just choose what type of flooding you want to search for using the drop down menu.

For more information about flood prevention, what to do during and after a flood, please visit the Government's website about preparing for a flood (opens new window).

To create a plan to prepare for flooding and other types of emergency, look at our Create an emergency plan web pages.

Warm weather can be great fun in the summer months, but extreme heat can create health issues in all ages, but especially in the older and younger generations.

• Heatstroke (opens new window)
• Dehydration,
• Overheating and
• Heat exhaustion are the main risks posed by a heatwave

For more information on these conditions and your health during hot weather, visit the NHS Choices website (opens new window).

Stay aware of what the weather will be like over the summer months. You can look at the Met Office website (opens new window) for the heat-health watch.

Each year Public Health England release a plan for the summer called the 'Heatwave Plan for England' (opens new window). This plan contains helpful advice on what to do to keep cool in the summer months.

Don't forget to look out for neighbours, does anyone live close to you who may find keeping cool more difficult?