Emergency Rooms Brace for Winter Surge: Expert Offers Preventative Tips
As temperatures plummet and winter weather descends, emergency departments nationwide are preparing for a predictable surge in patients-but avoidable incidents are driving many to seek care. A Yale School of Medicine expert urges proactive steps to mitigate risks from falls, injuries, and seasonal viruses, perhaps keeping individuals out of already strained hospital emergency rooms.
four years ago, dr. Arjun Venkatesh, professor of emergency medicine and chair of emergency medicine at Yale School of Medicine, publicly advised caution regarding winter hazards, specifically warning against icy conditions. Ironically, he soon found himself a patient demonstrating the very danger he cautioned against. “Just a thin layer of ice is all it takes to fall and break a bone,” Venkatesh had stated. Days later, while taking out the trash after a shift at Yale New Haven Hospital, he slipped on his own icy driveway, sliding the entire length.
slips, trips, and falls are a important contributor to winter ED visits, but they are not the only concern.The colder months also bring a rise in respiratory illnesses,including influenza,COVID-19,and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Venkatesh explains that these factors combine to create a consistently busy period for emergency departments.
“The ED is busy every winter,” Venkatesh says, “because of a confluence of unexpected injuries and the spread of respiratory viruses.” He notes that certain populations are notably vulnerable, and emphasizes that preventative measures can significantly reduce the risk of needing emergency care as temperatures drop.
