An inside look at what ER doctors see during and after storms and tips to stay safe, including how to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, heart attacks, falls and more.
Shoveling snow is a workout that can double as a cardiac stress test. Take regular breaks, lift small amounts and stop immediately if you feel chest pressure or unusual shortness of breath., taking aim at much of our country from Friday through Sunday.
It will bring heavy snow, ice, bitter cold and likely power outages. Here’s something that might surprise you.are actually are quiet during a storm. People hunker down. Then, in the hours and days after, there is a predictable wave of patients.23% after a heavy snow. Cold-related visits soar and stay high. Falls spike by 18% in the week after a moderate snowfall. Ice storms, in fact, are more dangerous than snowstorms when it comes to injuries and illness. When a storm knocks out the power, the threat multiplies. Drawing from my years as an ER doctor, here are six facts you should know to avoid landing in a hospital bed after the snowfall ends.When the power fails, carbon monoxide can become a silent killer. People sometimes run generators too close to the house. They use grills or camp stoves indoors. Snow blocks furnace vents, causing backdrafting. People use ovens and gas burners for heat. Mild carbon monoxide exposures cause symptoms of fatigue, dizziness, headache and nausea. This can mimic a viral infection and lead to misdiagnoses. More severe poisonings are easier to spot, causing disorientation, unconsciousness, seizures and even death.If you take away nothing else: keep your generators outside — far from doors, windows or vents. Don’t drag your generator into the garage, not even “just for a bit.” Carbon monoxide can rapidly cause severe symptoms before you even know what’s happening. Working detectors are a must.an estimated 11,500 people to U.S. ERs every year. Cardiac events are the most serious concern, accounting for every one of the 1,647 shoveling-related deaths tracked over a 17-year study. Shoveling is hard on the body, especially the unconditioned one. Cold air tightens blood vessels, and sudden, heavy, repeated lifting spikes heart rate and blood pressure. If you must shovel, treat it like a serious athletic event. Pace yourself, take frequent breaks and lift small amounts of snow. If you feel any chest pressure, unusual shortness of breath, nausea or pain spreading to your arm or jaw, stop. Call for help. Pushing through or delaying care is how tragedies happen.identified 15 "high-fall days" over five winters. Recent snow made fall injuries 13.4 times more likely compared to control days. Injuries related to slips on the ice tend to follow similar patterns. Doctors call them “FOOSH” injuries, or a “Fall On an Outstretched Hand." These result in broken wrists and twisted ankles. When the hand misses, head injuries can occur, which can be sometimes be deadly, especially for older adults Here’s some boring but effective advice. If you need to step out on the ice, walk like a penguin. Take short steps, feet slightly apart. Don’t rush. If you have older family or neighbors, remind them to stay put until paths are fully clear. For seniors, a fall can cause a bad bruise or even a broken hip requiring an ER visit or hospital stay. Hip fractures can lead to a cascade of complications and impact long term independence.the snow stops. That’s when the black ice forms. Thousands of crashes and hundreds of fatalities happen each year on snowy or icy pavement. If you can wait, let road crews do their work. If you must go out, slow down. Leave a large following distance, and avoid sudden moves. Keep your gas tank above half, and pack a winter kit just in case: blankets, food, water, a flashlight.Hypothermia doesn’t just happen to mountain climbers. Cold-related hospital admissions were found to jump 3.7-fold on high-snowfall days and stayed elevated for nearly a week, according to a 2017 study inCold can cause many problems that land people in the ER, including frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite symptoms depend on how deep the tissue injury is and the range of superficial injuries, from numbness, tingling or waxy skin to clear blisters and pink tissue. Severe injuries can lead to blackened, dead tissue. Hypothermia often begins with feeling chilled and shivering. But as reserves become exhausted, shivering stops and body temperature continues to fall. The very young, very old and those with impaired temperature perception or regulation face the highest risks. When it comes to cold injuries, don’t tough it out. If you suspect frostbite, don’t rub the area; warm it gently and seek care. If someone is confused, slurring words or unusually drowsy in the cold, it’s time to call for help.Check on older neighbors, people living alone and those without reliable heat or backup power. Outages and storm hazards hit marginalized and under-resourced communities the hardest, amplifying every other risk. A simple call or text can save a life. Ask, “Do you have heat?” and “Do you have a safe way to cook and charge your phone?” If the answer is no, help them problem-solveUltimately, storm risk doesn’t end when the snow stops. Consider implementing these few, simple winter storm safety tips, take care of yourself and check on someone who might be stuck in the cold.
Winter Storm 2026 Snow Shoveling Heart Attack Risk Ice Fall Injury Prevention Black Ice Driving Safety Tips Hypothermia Frostbite Warning Signs Winter Weather Car Survival Kit How To Avoid ER After Snowstorm Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Generator Safety Power Outage Emergency Preparedness
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