Winter brings a rise in both accidental injuries and infectious respiratory illnesses, so emergency departments are busier in the cold months. Slips, trips and falls are common when ground and driveways freeze. The seasonal viruses named in connection with this rise include influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Four years ago Arjun Venkatesh, a professor and chair of emergency medicine at Yale School of Medicine and chief of emergency medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital, spoke on local news to warn people to avoid walking on ice. In that interview he said, "Just a thin layer of ice is all it takes to fall and break a bone." Two days later he slipped at home on a frozen driveway after a night shift, landed on his butt and slid the length of the driveway.
The account shows how quickly routine tasks can become hazards. Venkatesh says simple precautions can reduce risk, and clinicians give public reminders to help prevent needless trips to emergency departments.
Difficult words
- accidental — happening by chance, not planned
- infectious — able to spread disease from one person
- emergency departments — hospital area for urgent care
- respiratory — connected with breathing or the lungs
- precautions — an action to reduce risk or harm
- clinicians — a doctor or other health care professional
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What simple precautions could people take to reduce risk when walking on ice?
- How do busy emergency departments in winter affect health care in your community?
- Have you ever slipped or fallen in bad weather? What happened and what did you learn?
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