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Severe weather planning

Severe weather, whether hot or cold, can have a big effect on people's health and our role is to make sure that organisations in Derbyshire have well thought out plans in place to respond.


Cold weather

Cold weather, ice and snow can cause serious difficulties and health problems for older and vulnerable residents.

There are an estimated 246 excess winter deaths in Derbyshire each year due to an increase in heart attacks and strokes, respiratory disease, flu, falls and injuries.

That's why health protection is involved in planning for severe weather to make sure that vital services can cope during harsh weather.

We have a duty to make sure that plans are in place to protect the health of people in Derbyshire including preparation for cold weather, snow and ice.

We're working with other local organisations on long term planning for cold weather. This covers:

  • protecting people and infrastructure from the effects of cold weather and helping reduce excess winter illness and death
  • supporting improved building design and increased energy efficiency which can improve and protect health, reduce carbon emissions and generate jobs in the local community
  • dealing with fuel poverty including energy efficiency interventions in the home and minimising energy costs

Snow buddies

If you know of any older or vulnerable people who might struggle during severe weather then you can help keep them safe and well by becoming a snow buddy.

General winter health advice is available from government's cold weather plan for England.

You can also get advice and tips on keeping warm and find out where your nearest warm space is during the winter months.

Hot weather

Bright, hot summer days are what many of us look forward to for the rest of the year.

However, while we're enjoying the balmy days of summer, we shouldn't forget that sometimes the temperature can get too high and, for some, it can become dangerously hot.

Excessive exposure to high temperatures can kill. During the level 4 heatwave period in 2022 it's estimated that there were over 1,000 excess deaths. Deaths increase as temperatures increase from over 25°C.

At risk groups include older people, the very young, people with pre-existing medical conditions and people who find it difficult to change their behaviour or routines.

That's why as well as planning for cold weather we also have to plan for warm weather.

We're working with other local organisations on planning for hot weather and this covers the following:

  • long-term multi-agency planning to adapt to and reduce the effect of climate change, including 'greening the built environment', building design such as increasing shading and insulation of buildings, increasing energy efficiency and transport policies
  • providing advice and guidance to people on how to protect themselves during hot weather
  • making sure that organisations have plans in place to respond to hot weather

We have information on keeping cool during warm weather.

General summer health advice is available from the government.

Adverse weather alerts

The Weather-Health Alerting System is provided by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in partnership with the Met Office. It's intended to provide early warning when adverse temperatures are likely to impact on the health and wellbeing of the population.

The Weather-Health Alerting System is made up of the Heat-Health Alerts (HHA) and the Cold-Health Alerts (CHA).

You can sign up to receive adverse weather alerts.

Fuel poverty

A big problem during winter is people not being able to afford to heat their homes.

Often people have to choose between heating and eating. This is known as fuel poverty and we are working to try and tackle this.

Find out more about fuel poverty and the ways we're trying to tackle it.