More than half of West Midlands children 'will go to bed cold' this winter, study says
A recent study has shown that more than half of parents in the West Midlands are worried they won't be able to keep their children warm at night this winter.
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Research conducted by SpeedComfort of 200,000 consumers revealed 52% of parents worried their children will be cold at home when temperatures drop, with almost a third (29%) of West Midlands residents claiming to have difficulty heating their homes when the weather turns cold.
Almost the same amount (28%) of parents admit they’ve had to put their children to bed in a cold room and a further 43% worry the temperature of their house is bad for their family’s health on cold days.
Last night (November 18), was the coldest night of the year so far - with snow continuing to fall this morning, causing disruption to public transport and local schools. The icy weather is likely to continue across much of the country until Saturday (November 23).
But inside their homes, Brits anticipate the temperatures inside their homes will drop to 12.8°C this winter. This is five degrees colder than the recommended healthy temperature for adults to live and sleep in (18°C) and three degrees colder than the minimum safe temperature for infants to sleep in (16°C), according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The impact of this on families across the UK is significant. According to the NHS, consistently being cold can have a detrimental impact on mental and physical health. Many report discomfort (43%), feeling low (41%) or unwell (28%) if they are unable to stay warm at home.
Those who are more vulnerable and elderly reported feeling more discomfort due to colder temperatures with 48%.
Wouter Heuterman, CEO of SpeedComfort, comments: “With the cost of living crisis continuing to affect so many families across the West Midlands, it’s heartbreaking to see that so many residents are worried about keeping their families safe and warm at home this winter.
“The cold has a huge impact on how we feel both physically and emotionally. For families with children and vulnerable people, the impact of cold temperatures is even further exacerbated. So, if you’re worried about the health of your family this winter, it’s well worth considering alternative ways of keeping your home warm when temperatures drop."
For more information on how to lower the costs of your energy bills this winter visit SpeedComfort's guide.
