Keep Warm Keep Well, a national government campaign targeting the reduction of cold-related illnesses during winter, offers tips and advice on staying healthy this winter.

The campaign offers a variety of practical help and advice such as how to keep the house effectively insulated to reduce heat loss and how to stay healthy and fit during cold spells.

Some of the tips and advice you can pass on to your clients include:

Heat the home well

By setting the heating to the right temperature (between 18-21°C or 64-70°F), the home can still be kept warm and bills can be lowered. If your clients feel cold at night, suggest they use a hot water bottle or electric blanket - but stress that they never use both together.

Suggest setting the heating to come on just before your client gets up and to go off after they've gone to bed. If it's very cold, suggest setting the heating to come on earlier and turn off later rather than turning the thermostat up.

If your client can't heat all the rooms they use, suggest heating the living room throughout the day and the bedroom just before they go to bed. Remember to recommend they close curtains and shut doors to keep heat in the rooms they use most.

Heating the home safely is really important. Remember to recommend your clients have regular heating system check-ups.

Recommend fitting draught-proofing to seal any gaps around windows and doors, and making sure the loft has at least 10-11 inches (270mm) of insulation as well ensuring wall cavities are insulated.

Staying healthy

Food is a vital source of energy which helps keep the body warm. Suggest your clients try to make sure they have hot meals and drinks regularly throughout the day.

Recommend your clients keep their diets as varied as possible and include plenty of hot food and drinks. A great suggestion is that they stock up on tinned and frozen foods, especially vegetables, so they always have a healthy option.

Remind your clients that, if they have a long-term health condition or are over 65, they are eligible for a free flu jab to protect against seasonal flu from their GP.

Keep Warm Keep Well also provides information on financial assistance, such as grants and benefits, that is available to your clients to help them make their home warmer, or simply to assist them in meeting the financial demands of their heating bills.

Keep Warm Keep Well produces leaflets that are available for those who want further information on how to stay warm and well through the cold winter months. Tell your clients to look out for them in their local supermarket, GP surgery, local pharmacy or council offices. All of the information can also be viewed online at http://campaigns.direct.gov.uk/keepwarmkeepwell.

As well as making their own recommendations on how to best insulate the home and keep healthy throughout the winter, home improvement agencies can recomend their clients seek advice and information on the grants that are available by calling or visiting the following.

• Warm Front Scheme on 0800 316 2805 or visit www.warmfront.co.uk

• Cold Weather Payment by visiting www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

• Home Heat Helpline on 0800 336699 or visit www.homeheathelpline.org.uk

• Energy Saving Trust on 0800 512012 or visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

• National Energy Action by visiting www.nea.org.uk

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