Impact of a blizzard on an Irish Emergency Department

Discussion/conclusionThe volume of attendance fell initially during snowfall then rose sharply as the weather improved. Injuries were the predominant cause of presentations. Physical exertion while outdoors in the snow caused several patients to present with medical complaints. Heightened public awareness of the impact of weather warnings may help to prevent some of the social and logistical presentations to the ED. The exceptional dedication of the emergency service workforce is acknowledged and appreciated. Future planning is needed to keep morbidity and mortality from blizzards low.
Source: Irish Journal of Medical Science - Category: General Medicine Source Type: research