Staying Safe this Winter

Over winter, it is important to stay warm, stay well, and seek any support that you need to look after yourself and your loved ones.

To help you to do that, we want to share some resources and information to encourage you to join community groups running over the winter period to provide warmth and support the well-being of yourself and your young family.

Vaccinations

Boosting your immunity this winter.

Over the winter, it is much more common for illnesses such as the flu and Covid 19 to spread and make people very ill. While you are focusing on caring for yourself, your baby, or your loved ones it is important to offer yourself the best protection against viral infections ahead of the coming months. If you are pregnant, Covid 19 and the flu could cause serious harm to yourself and your baby.

If you would like to book a vaccination, please book an appointment through your local GP surgery, Pharmacist, or by asking a member of your local maternity service for support or local information.

• Further information about Covid-19 vaccinations whilst pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Royal College of Midwives vaccination guidance for pregnant people.
• Pregnancy, breastfeeding, fertility and coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination

Keeping Warm

This year, it is very important to make sure you are keeping warm and well however you can.

It is important to heat your home to a temperature that is comfortable for you. If possible, this should be at least 18°c in the rooms that you frequently use, such as your bedroom and living room. It is best to keep your bedroom windows closed at night and keep any warmth in that you can with draft excluders if possible. This is especially important if you have any health conditions.

This winter, with the cost of living crisis impacting so many homes across Sussex, it is important to make use of any local or community funds or spaces that will be offering somewhere warm and welcoming for yourself and your young children over the coming months.

More tips for keeping warm and well this winter

• Warm home discount scheme 
• Government guidance 
• How to stay well in winter.
• NCT – Pregnant in winter survival guide
• Healthy Happy Early Years Support

Cost of living support –

• East Sussex
• West Sussex
• Brighton & Hove

Staying Safe

Accessing help and support if you, or someone you know, is suffering domestic violence.

If you, or someone you know, is the victim of domestic violence, please make use of the support available to you at any time. If you are worried someone will be able to tell that you have been accessing domestic violence support online, the Women’s Aid website provides advice on how to access online support without fear of being discovered or leaving a digital trail.

You do not have to wait for an emergency situation to find help. If domestic abuse is happening to you, it’s important to tell someone and remember you’re not alone. There are dedicated people on hand to support your wellbeing this winter. You can find further advice on domestic abuse and violence on the NHS website.  You can also find help and support for domestic abuse on GOV.UK.

If you are experiencing domestic abuse during, after, or as a result of pregnancy it is very important that you reach out and ask for advice or support. You can find help and advice about  Domestic violence during pregnancy on the NHS website.

You can get further support from the 24-hour freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge – call 0808 2000 247 for free confidential advice.