Cold homes can kill
Every winter more than 5,000 people die in this country because their homes are too cold, says a report carried out for Friends of the Earth.
The report, compiled by leading public health expert at University College London, Sir Michael Marmot, claims there were an estimated 25,400 excess winter deaths last winter. And of these, around 5,500 are believed to have died because they lived in homes that were too cold.
Those affected are mostly the elderly, the report claims, but babies and children are at risk too. Living in a home that's too cold can, for instance, increase your risk of developing a respiratory problem such as asthma. Those who have coronary heart disease are also at an increased risk, especially if they are over the age of 75.
- To keep your home at the right temperature during the cold weather, make sure your thermostat is set at no lower than 21ºC (70ºF).


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