Winter 2011-12: Keep safe, keep well

Keeping well, keeping warm during the cold snap.

The East of England Ambulance Service is urging the public to keep themselves healthy during the current cold weather and ‘choose well’ if they need to use the NHS.

The NHS and emergency services across the region are predicting a busy period during the current cold snap. The public can be responsible for the health care they receive, and if they ‘choose well’ and use other parts of the NHS, such as a pharmacist, GP, NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or www.nhs.uk , resources for everyone are utilised in a better way.
 
You can also take actions to keep yourself healthy during cold/severe weather:

• Keep active, which as well as keeping you warm is also good for the heart.  A few gentle exercises at home can keep the blood flowing properly. Wear extra layers of clothing and drink regular hot drinks and make sure you check on elderly relatives or neighbours who live alone.
• Illnesses such as norovirus and flu can be exacerbated by cold weather, particularly in those who are already ill or who have a long term condition. To help prevent infections and viruses use basic hand hygiene – washing your hands with soap and warm water.

Dr Pamela Chrispin, Medical Director of the ambulance service, said: "At this time of year, we're called to more incidents of illness and infection but with some good planning and extra care people can keep healthy.
 
“During inclement weather, make sure you only go out if you really need to.  However, if you do, practical things like wearing extra layers of clothing can make all the difference.
 
“It's really important to also consider those more at risk of illness or medical need, and of course we urge people to make sure they're stocked up on any medication for short or long term conditions.”
 
Do not hesitate to call 999 in the case of a genuine life-threatening emergency, such as:

• chest pain
• difficulty in breathing
• unconsciousness
• severe loss of blood
• severe burns or scalds
• choking
• fitting or concussion
• drowning
• severe allergic reactions

EEAST prioritises the most urgent calls, and uses clinical support desks to triage and assess less urgent patients who may not actually need a traditional ambulance response and instead direct them to the right health care pathway so more serious patients can get help.
 
Dr Chrispin added: “If your injury or illness is managed in another way it means our response to patients who really do need us – those in a life-threatening or critical condition – can still get help.”
 
For information on using the 999 service, and ways in which you can have healthy winter, visit www.eastamb.nhs.uk , visit the official East of England Ambulance page on facebook, or follow @EastEnglandAmb on Twitter.