Hospitals see increase in fractures from falls
The Irish Association for Emergency Medicine (IAEM) is urging people to avoid going outside this weekend, where possible, as the country faces yet another day of freezing temperatures.
It comes as a high number of people are being admitted to hospital emergency rooms with serious injuries after falling in the icy conditions.
According to the IAEM, the extreme weather conditions have led to an increase in the number of patients presenting at emergency departments, with mainly limb fractures to the wrist, shoulder and ankle, as well as with chest and head injuries.
Most of the patients are elderly and many emergency departments recorded a peak of patients being admitted on Sunday and Monday when falls occurred either before or after Sunday religious services.
The IAEM has encouraged people to help their elderly neighbours and relatives with essential chores and grocery shopping.
Pedestrians are being asked to walk on the side of the road so that they are facing traffic, wearing bright, warm clothes so that they are easily seen and to avoid attempting to cross roads in front of moving traffic, as drivers may find it hard to stop on slippery surfaces.
