From Iceland — Increase In Hospital Admissions Due To Snow

Increase In Hospital Admissions Due To Snow

Published December 20, 2014

Nanna Árnadóttir
Photo by
landspitali.is

There has been a sharp increase in the number of admissions at Landspítalinn, the National University Hospital of Iceland’s emergency room in the past few days after accidents caused by icy roads and pavements.

The City of Reykjavík have been receiving about 700 phone calls each day to deal with the excessive snow, reports RÚV. Tens of vehicles and machines are used to plough the snow and clear the streets and pavements of ice. The snow ploughing begins at 4 am and continues through the evening.

Regardless, a lot of the people admitted have been pedestrians who suffered injuries after slipping on icy pavements, especially the elderly who have trouble walking already. Many of the people admitted have suffered broken legs and more seriously – broken hips.

Doctors are therefore asking the public to assist their relatives and friends with their Christmas shopping, especially if they have trouble moving or getting around in the bad weather.

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