Common Winter Health Risks
Emergency departments typically see a rise in weather-related concerns such as slip-and-fall injuries, cardiac events triggered by cold temperatures, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide exposure, respiratory illnesses, and motor vehicle accidents. These conditions require timely evaluation and treatment from trained emergency professionals.
Cold weather can also place unique stress on the cardiovascular system by constricting blood vessels and increasing blood pressure. For example, a research article published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal noted that heart attacks appeared to spike during winter months, particularly during and after snowstorms due to overexertion from shoveling snow.
Additionally, icy conditions sometimes lead to falls that can result in serious fractures, especially in older adults. Risk of carbon monoxide exposure increases as alternative heating sources are used that can produce the harmful odorless gas.
Why Immediate Access to Emergency Care Matters
During winter emergencies, every minute counts. Quick access to emergency care significantly improves outcomes and can prevent minor conditions from escalating into serious medical crises.
Our emergency department is open around the clock, staffed by expert emergency physicians and healthcare professionals and supported by advanced diagnostic technology and efficient triage systems. Our teams coordinate seamlessly with specialists, providing an integrated approach to ensure comprehensive treatment without delays.
Preparing for Winter Emergencies
Simple steps can help keep families safe throughout the winter season. These include taking preventative measures, like adding salt, to ensure that walkways don’t pile up with snow and ice, dressing warmly in layers when outdoors, installing and maintaining carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home, recognizing warning signs of heart attacks and strokes, and keeping emergency contact numbers accessible. Never use gas stoves, generators, or grills for indoor heating.
Seeking care promptly is especially important when symptoms worsen or do not improve. Trust your instincts and if something feels seriously wrong, seek emergency care immediately.
FastTrackCare for Non-Life-Threatening Needs
Monroe Hospital offers patients an enhanced emergency room experience, furthering its commitment to provide the very best care to communities where and when they need it. FastTrackCare allows patients to reserve an appointment via the hospital’s main webpage to be seen in the ER. Patients fill out a brief, secure form, and no username or password is required. The tool can notify the patient if there is a change that may extend the wait time, and a notification can even be sent if an earlier arrival time becomes available. Importantly, FastTrackCare is intended only for non-life or limb-threatening emergencies. In a life-threatening emergency, call 911 immediately.
The easy-to-use tool provides added convenience for those with non-life-threatening, urgent needs. While appointments cannot be explicitly guaranteed due to the variable nature of an emergency department, the tool still allows patients insight into current wait times and increases communication through the notification features.
Our Commitment to Emergency Care
We understand that visiting an emergency department can be stressful, especially during severe weather. Our teams focus on delivering compassionate, patient-centered care while ensuring safety, clear communication, and a supportive environment throughout your visit.
No matter the weather, our emergency services remain available 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Whether the situation is minor or critical, our teams are ready to provide the timely, expert care your family depends on.
References
- Alter, D. A. (2017). The eco–biological–behavioural perfect storm that follows heavy snowfall. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 189(6), E225–E226. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.170022