A campaign to help reduce the number of deaths in Liverpool during the winter is being launched.
The Healthy Homes team are launching their 2013 Winter Survival campaign in the Radio Merseyside foyer, Hanover Street, on Monday 14 October (11am to 3pm).
This is a drop-in event aimed at elderly residents. Healthy Homes will be providing information about how to keep warm and safe during the winter months and will be giving away winter warmth items. There will also be an opportunity for Liverpool residents to enter a free prize draw to win £100 off fuel bills.
Councillor Gerard Woodhouse, Mayoral lead for Older People, said; “We have seen a reduction in the number of excess winter deaths in the city over the last three years but there were still more than 100 last year.
“We need to do all we can to cut this figure even further. The Winter Survival Campaign will provide a lot of information and advice on keeping warm and safe in the coming months and I would hope as many people as possible drop in to the launch event and to future sessions.”
Speakers at the launch include Dr Paula Grey, Director of Public Health, Chris Price, Healthy Homes Health and Wellbeing Partnership Manager and Steve Croft from Age Concern as well as Councillor Woodhouse.
At the launch information will be provided by a number of agencies including
• Public Health – Information about the flu jab and out of hours services.
• Age Concern – Information about the wide range of their services which support the well-being needs – social, financial and practical – of older people.
• The fire service will explain the importance of having annual gas safety checks to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning,
• Fuel Poverty – Advice for people who are spending more than 10% of their income on fuel bills.
• Energy Efficiency – Information about advice and support to improve energy efficiency in the home.
• Health Watch – Information about access to health services in Liverpool, giving people the chance to speak about their experience of these services and what to do if you are not happy with any of them.
• Community food workers – Information about how to prepare nutritious meals during the winter.
• Local Solutions – information about services and support for carers.
• Royal British Legion – Information about the Poppy Calls free handy-van service which carries out minor repairs for eligible former members of the armed forces and their dependents.
There will also be information about the City Council’s Handyperson service and representatives from LHT and Your Housing will be available to speak to tenants.
Following the launch the campaign– which will also feature a series of shot films starring Ricky Tomlinson – will be taken out into the city with a number of roadshows and sessions at luncheon clubs will be held.