Community healthcare teams from Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust are supporting local people to stay well over the festive period, with top tips for staying well and where to go for further help and advice.

The cold and damp weather, ice, snow and high winds can all aggravate any existing health problems and make people more vulnerable to respiratory winter illnesses. It’s important if you’re feeling unwell to get advice from your nearest pharmacist, even if it’s just a cough or cold, act quickly, before it gets more serious.

Sarah Horsfall, District Nurse at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust said:  “Winter can potentially affect our health but there are a number of things that everyone can do to keep themselves and their families well especially during the festive period and over the bank holidays.

One thing everyone can do is to check you have the right medicines at home, to treat the most common winter illnesses like sore throats, coughs or earache. If you’re not sure what you should have in you can ask your pharmacist.

“Now the weather has turned colder it’s also important to make sure you keep warm. Heat your home to at least 18 degrees Celsius or warmer.”

The cold and icy weather also puts many people at risk of slips, trips and falls. The falls prevention team at the Trust have put together some top tips to help people stay on their feet.

Sharon Bond, Falls Co-ordinator at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, said “One in three people over the age of 65 and half of people over 80 fall at least once a year, and we want to provide people with some tips to try and reduce this number.”

Top tips to avoid falling in the winter months include: if you don’t need to go out in the snow and ice don’t; wear gloves so you can keep your hands out of your pockets to help with your balance; keep your vision sharp by wearing your glasses to see clearly;  and finally, wear sturdy footwear with a good grip.

More help and advice for staying well and on your feet this winter is available at www.bdct.nhs.uk/staywell