During the winter months, there can be an increase in sickness with things such as cold and flu, gastroenteritis (winter vomiting bug), frostbite and pneumonia etc. People can experience these things all year round, but due to poorer conditions, being out in the open less, spreading can happen a lot more. Not to mention, a lot of viruses can thrive more in colder conditions.
Colder months can also cause a drop in people’s health because cold can affect people’s bones, mental health and nutrition. Therefore, it’s always best to be more vigilant during these months so that you can stay fit and healthy.
When it comes to the workplace, these seasons can cause a higher rate of staff absences and sickness as employees encounter each other usually daily and so more sicknesses can spread. With things like Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), it’s not uncommon for there to be a rise in poor mental health too. All of which negatively impact productivity, absence levels, and finances.
Here’s how occupational health can help…
Occupational health can help navigate employee’s mental health by providing things such as counselling, employee assistance programmes, and wellbeing strategies. Not only that but also case management and absence management by occupational health services ensures that staff have the reasonable adjustments, treatment or rehabilitation plans they need so that they remain at work, or return to work more swiftly.
UKIM’s Lead Occupational Health Advisor, Laura Sharp, shares her tips on how to stay healthy this winter:
Coughs, Colds, and Sickness Bugs
- Start to prepare for winter bugs by having a flu vaccination if eligible, start to take daily vitamins and try to eat a healthy diet rich in leafy green vegetables.
- Try to stay away from people that are unwell.
- Practice good hand hygiene to prevent the spread of illnesses and try to keep away from those that could be more vulnerable to illness.
- Keep a good supply of pain relief, cold and flu remedies and working thermometer; rehydration sachets are great following a sickness bug to replace fluids.
- Speak to a pharmacist about minor illnesses as they are a great source of information when a GP appointment is not needed.
Slips, Trips, and Falls
- Be careful when climbing ladders to put up Christmas decorations; always have someone to hold the ladder and only climb if you are steady on your feet.
- Ensure that outside of your door is ice free by salting the area to avoid slipping over.
- Ensure you have suitable footwear for the weather conditions.
- Avoid running cables across rooms so that no one trips over.
- Think about the lighting around the home and outside when the nights get darker to avoid falls.
Winter and Mood
Many people struggle with the dark mornings and nights that winter brings and it can have a detrimental effect on their mental health.
- Try to get outside as much as possible when it's light outside.
- Think about investing in a light box that mimics the sun’s rays.
- Try a light alarm that gradually wakes you up with light rather than waking up to darkness.
- Plan activities to keep your mood light – walks, seeing friends, etc.
- Speak to your GP if you feel particularly unwell or low in mood due to the darker nights.