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Overall, the majority of emergency room visits from the blizzards stemmed from slips and falls.
Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence and St. Mary’s Medical Center in Blue Springs treated people for a host of winter weather injuries.
Suzy DePaoli, a staff nurse inside the emergency room at St. Mary’s Medical Center, said the hospital treated injuries from “lots and lots of falls.” Also, they’ve treated people with pulmonary issues and respiratory infections. The majority were slip and fall injuries, however.
At Centerpoint, the story was the same. A majority of patients there were slips and falls, mild frost bite and evaluations from vehicle accidents, said Dr. Lorraine Duncan at the emergency room in Centerpoint Medical Center.
People suffered hip and wrist fractures and sprains.
Most people heeded the brutal conditions and stayed inside, decreasing the likelihood of a major public medical emergency, Duncan said.
A woman who had been drinking was treated at Centerpoint for frostbite. She played outside, not thinking about the ramifications of the cold.
Alcohol and sub-zero temperatures do not mix well.
“They lose judgment about how long they’ve been outside,” Duncan said. “Alcohol is a tremendously good pain killer.”
Centerpoint treated several patients who suffered frostbite.
Tips for safe shoveling
Dr. Lorraine Duncan of Centerpoint Medical Center recommends the following tips for safe shoveling.
“It’s a strenuous activity,” she said. “It’s the highest level of exercise, in my opinion.”
Elderly people should refrain from shoveling. “That’s tremendous cardiovascular risk. We tend to see heart attacks during snow shoveling season.”
She said if a person has not been cleared for heavy exercise, don’t shovel.
“We’ve had plenty of people come in with chest pain after shoveling their walk,” said Suzy DePaoli, a staff nurse at St. Mary’s Medical Center.
In fact, DePaoli said a man who was experiencing chest pains Tuesday evening decided to shovel his walkway so he could drive himself to the hospital.
“I’m sure that was pretty scary,” she said.
The hospital likely will be treating people with back pain from shoveling snow. The previous snow storm weeks ago resulted in people seeking treatment for back pain.
“I’m guessing they’ll be coming in tomorrow,” Duncan said. “Don’t forget, the first day you’re not too bad. It’s always the second day.”
Overall, the majority of emergency room visits from the blizzards stemmed from slips and falls.
Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence and St. Mary’s Medical Center in Blue Springs treated people for a host of winter weather injuries.
Suzy DePaoli, a staff nurse inside the emergency room at St. Mary’s Medical Center, said the hospital treated injuries from “lots and lots of falls.” Also, they’ve treated people with pulmonary issues and respiratory infections. The majority were slip and fall injuries, however.
At Centerpoint, the story was the same. A majority of patients there were slips and falls, mild frost bite and evaluations from vehicle accidents, said Dr. Lorraine Duncan at the emergency room in Centerpoint Medical Center.
People suffered hip and wrist fractures and sprains.
Most people heeded the brutal conditions and stayed inside, decreasing the likelihood of a major public medical emergency, Duncan said.
A woman who had been drinking was treated at Centerpoint for frostbite. She played outside, not thinking about the ramifications of the cold.
Alcohol and sub-zero temperatures do not mix well.
“They lose judgment about how long they’ve been outside,” Duncan said. “Alcohol is a tremendously good pain killer.”
Centerpoint treated several patients who suffered frostbite.
Tips for safe shoveling
Dr. Lorraine Duncan of Centerpoint Medical Center recommends the following tips for safe shoveling.
“It’s a strenuous activity,” she said. “It’s the highest level of exercise, in my opinion.”
Elderly people should refrain from shoveling. “That’s tremendous cardiovascular risk. We tend to see heart attacks during snow shoveling season.”
She said if a person has not been cleared for heavy exercise, don’t shovel.
“We’ve had plenty of people come in with chest pain after shoveling their walk,” said Suzy DePaoli, a staff nurse at St. Mary’s Medical Center.
In fact, DePaoli said a man who was experiencing chest pains Tuesday evening decided to shovel his walkway so he could drive himself to the hospital.
“I’m sure that was pretty scary,” she said.
The hospital likely will be treating people with back pain from shoveling snow. The previous snow storm weeks ago resulted in people seeking treatment for back pain.
“I’m guessing they’ll be coming in tomorrow,” Duncan said. “Don’t forget, the first day you’re not too bad. It’s always the second day.”
