The following report is by iTV:
Officials at a Welsh health board have said they are seeing an increase in elderly people presenting with hypothermia because they are “afraid of the cost of putting their heating on”.
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said it believes this is due to a combination of the recent cold weather and the cost of living crisis.
It described these things as having a “major impact” on the health of some elderly and vulnerable people, urging members of the public to check in with older relatives and neighbours.
Hypothermia can happen when a person’s body temperature drops below 35°C and elderly people are particularly at risk.
A spokesperson for the health board said:
We are starting to see an increase in elderly people presenting with hypothermia. This is sadly due to the extremely freezing cold temperatures and the cost of living crisis with people afraid of the cost of putting their heating on.
This difficult combination is now having a major impact on the health of some of the elderly vulnerable people across our communities. We urge everyone to check in on their elderly family, friends and neighbours this Winter.
On its website, Aneurin Bevan Health Board gives advice on how to keep warm and safe, and adds that warm drinks, hot meals and wrapping up are vital.
Guidance on the site says:
We know that this year, it’s more difficult to heat your home than ever before, but keeping warm can make a huge difference to keeping you well. If you’re not very mobile, are 65 or over, or have a health condition, such as heart or lung disease, you should heat your home to at least 18°C.
Everyone should keep their bedroom at 18°C all night if they can, and keep the bedroom window closed. To ensure your heating system is as efficient as possible, get it checked regularly by a qualified professional. If you’re under 65, healthy and active, you can safely have your home cooler than 18°C, as long as you’re comfortable.
A weather warning for ice was issued across the whole of Wales across Sunday (18 December) morning. Temperatures are expected to turn milder at the start of week leading up to Christmas, with some parts of Wales reaching 10 to 12°C.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.
Job 24:7
It’s only mid-December and Europe continues to get walloped by all these insane costs of energy, and it unfortunately it is only going to get worse.
These deliberate actions are being used to force the people to beg and grovel to the government to save them, to which the state will be elated to oblige.
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
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Older people should be informed that switching their heating off is not the way to go. People die with hypothermia. Older people would be far better putting their heating on and not worry about the cost. What can the government do about it- nothing. At worst they will come to a monetary arrangement with the person concerned which may take years to pay. So what. Government are the real killers