The Country Is Locked in a War Against Winter. Is Your Team Ready for the Casualties?

As the East Coast braces for its third snowstorm in less than 2 weeks, much of Texas is still struggling with very un-Texas-like cold temperatures and widespread power outages. Six people were killed and dozens were injured in a 133-car pileup on a slick highway near Fort Worth. An urgent care center in Fairfield, CT was featured on local media talking about a sharp rise in injuries due to people falling on icy walkways. These are just the stories that make the news. Surely there are countless more ways winter is wreaking havoc on residents in your area, including frostbite, hypothermia, and other cold-weather injuries. Patients may be coming in with out-of-the ordinary complaints in the coming weeks, especially if you practice in an environment known for its warmer climate. Are you ready, in terms of staffing, supplies, and the right diagnostic mindset? If not, it might be a good idea to read a couple of articles from the JUCM archives: Cold Weather-Related Injuries and Injuries to the Upper Extremity Due to Falls On Outstretched Hands (FOOSH) take a thorough look at the breadth and potential severity of presentations that increase during the cold-weather months.