
Pictures: Daisy Heneghan
With a hard freeze forecast for the next three nights, Kerry County Council’s severe weather assessment team will continue to monitor the situation and the salting of priority route will continue.
The team has appealed to those in the worst hit areas of the county to check on elderly, vulnerable and isolated neighbours, ensure mobile phones are fully charged to enable communication and be prepared for disruption to water and power utilities.
Farmers have been advised to take all necessary precautions when dealing with livestock and when they are working alone.
As temperatures plummet and with many parts of the county experience freezing conditions, it is particularly important that those most vulnerable to harsh weather conditions are protected.
Care company Home Instead said despite the extra challenges posed by the weather, with snow and ice creating difficult travelling conditions, it is vital that ageing adults most in need get the support of their community.
“here are actions everyone can take to make sure the most vulnerable people in their community stay safe including:

Stay connected: It is crucial that family, friends and neighbours check in on ageing adults to make sure they are feeling okay and have everything they need during the week but remember to take extra care when driving, as there will be icy stretches on many roads.
Before you set off on your journey, ensure that you can see properly by clearing your windows and mirrors using a screen scraper or de-icer but don’t use hot water on the windscreen as it can crack the glass.
When you arrive, check that their mobile phones are fully charged and close to hand should they need to call for assistance. The same goes for emergency pendants or personal alarms.

Wear layers of clothing: Significant drops in internal temperature can lead to serious health complications for ageing adults. To stay warm throughout the day, it’s best to wear several thin layers of clothing and keep all internal windows and doors closed.
Stay stocked up: With the cold and wet weather, older people may be reluctant to go to the shops. By offering to do a shop for your older neighbour, friend or relative, you can help them to have all their essentials to hand, including groceries, solid fuels, and medical prescriptions.
Eat well: Regular, hot meals keep the body warm. Porridge, which is quick and easy to prepare, is an excellent source of nutrients and fuels the body for hours. Stocking an ageing adult’s press with non-perishables like oats, tinned fruit and vegetables, and pasta will ensure that there is always something nourishing on the menu.
Winter-proof the home: Harsh weather conditions can increase the chance of accidents for ageing adults. During the winter months, make sure that pathways are cleared from wet leaves, internal draughts are blocked and electrical devices are unplugged when not in use.
Plan for emergencies: Be prepared for events like power cuts by ensuring that older adults have items such as fuel and non-perishable food at home and that they have emergency and close family contact numbers to hand. Keeping the Eircode beside the phone can also assist emergency services in reaching them as quickly as possible, should the need arise.
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