Amber Cold Health Alert for the South East

Published: 10 January 2025

Amber Cold Health Alerts are issued when average temperatures are forecast to be below 2°C for five consecutive days, or below 0°C for 48hrs or more. This forecast weather is likely to cause significant impacts across health and social care services, including:

· A rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. We may also see impacts on younger age groups.

· A likely increase in demand for health services.

· Temperatures inside places like hospitals, care homes, and clinics dropping below the levels recommended for assessing health risks.

· Challenges keeping indoor temperatures at the recommended 18°C leading to more risk to vulnerable people.

· Sttaffing issues due to external factors (such as travel delays).

· Other sectors starting to observe impacts (such as transport and energy).

Due to the likelihood of freezing temperatures, we have also activated our Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP), that means we are providing shelter to verified rough sleepers in the borough.

Below are some key resources you may find useful:  

General Guidance   

• Keeping warm and well: staying safe in cold weather - GOV.UK
• Cold weather and health: supporting vulnerable people - GOV.UK
• Information about SWEP including who to contact if you see someone rough sleeping
• latest traffic information including road closures

Specific guidance for your setting or sector    

• Cold-Health Alert action card for the voluntary and community sector - GOV.UK
• Cold-Health Alert action card for commissioners - GOV.UK
• Cold-Health Alert action card for health and social care providers - GOV.UK