Age UK Cheshire winter warmth packs protect older people from the cold

Feb 28 2013 by Mark Dowling, Flintshire Chronicle

Age UK Cheshire winter warmth packs protect older people from the cold

A CHARITY has launched a campaign to help older people stay warm this winter.

Age UK Cheshire is giving away free winter warmth packs filled with useful items including fleecy jackets, soup packets and hot water bottles.

To celebrate the launch, Chester MP Stephen Mosley handed out the first pack to older residents.

Ken Clemens, CEO of Age UK Cheshire, said: “Every one-degree drop in average winter temperatures results in an additional 8,000 excess winter deaths.

“In England and Wales last year, more than 24,000 excess winter deaths were recorded in the UK, and 170 of these were in the borough of Cheshire West and Chester. Each one of these deaths is preventable.

“We are delighted to have received funding to distribute packs as part of Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Warm Homes, Healthy People scheme, and we now want to reach as many people in need as possible.

“We are urging older people who are suffering with the cold at the moment, to pick up pack, or for those with an older relative or friend to do so on their behalf.”

Other items included in the packs are thermal socks, a thermal cup, a thermal hot water bottle cover, a room thermometer and an Age UK booklet filled with advice on staying well and warm in the winter.

The Winter Warmth packs contains:

A fleecy blanket

Thermal socks

Thermal cup

Hot water bottle

Thermal hot water bottle cover

Room thermometer

Soup packets

Age UK booklet entitled “Winter Wrapped Up”, with advice on keeping well and staying warm in Winter

In addition, Age UK Cheshire is giving away digital cold alarms to older people. These easy-to-use, small portable devices will alert residents to drops in room temperature.

The packs and cold alarms are available to be collected from Age UK Cheshire’s information and advice offices at 4 Queen Street, Chester.