Slip and fall, headed to the ER

Take it slow Thursday. Emergency room workers report that they usually do a brisk business treating injuries on the day after a big snow storm.

Take it slow Thursday. Emergency room workers report that they usually do a brisk business treating injuries on the day after a big snow storm. [audio:100210tenextday.mp3]

There’s likely ice beneath those fluffy feet of snow. Digging out the car or clearing the sidewalk can end in a trip to the ER.

Vickie Frondorf is the lead ER nurse practitioner at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Frondorf: It’s important to use good foot gear and to take short steps because you may not think that you are going to fall but we see many wrist and ankle fractures — back injuries — because of slip and falls after this bad weather.

Another ER staple after snowfalls is chest pain from shoveling. Frondorf advised that, with many roads still hard to navigate, anyone feeling chest pain should call 911 rather than hitching a ride with a relative or neighbor.