Careful out there. Snow, cold equal more visits to Michigan emergency rooms

• Winter sends more patients to emergency rooms with injuries like sprained wrists 
• Older adults are at higher risk of severe injuries like fractures or severe head trauma
• Experts urge caution when shoveling and using snowblowers 

With yet another round of fresh snow blanketing the state, winter’s in high gear in Michigan — and, inevitably, that means steady business for emergency rooms and urgent-care centers across the state.

While data on winter-related trips to the ER isn’t readily available, doctors tell Bridge they see an increase in injuries this time of year, from sprained wrists to fractured ribs.

A good way to avoid getting injured? Slow down. 

“All of us are in a rush in life in general and the faster we move, the easier it is to have an accident when roadways or sidewalks are not clear,” said Dr. Crystal Arthur, chief medical director of emergency services at McLaren Health Care. “Not rushing through the day, taking your time, making sure you're paying attention to the road hazards to prevent those car accidents and other things that happen commonly around this time of year” can help prevent injuries, she said. 

Related:

• Snow is making a big comeback in Michigan this year, with more to come
• Great Lakes continuing to lose ice coverage, experts warn 

Certain groups, like older people or those with pre-existing health conditions, can sustain more severe injuries.

“My octogenarians, they shatter like glass,” Arthur said. “As we age… our bones get more brittle and so just minor trauma can result in a fracture, rather than just wrist sprain.” 

Individuals who may fall and hit their head, for example, may be at risk of intracranial bleeding if they take blood thinners for heart-related conditions. 

“Elderly people tend to be on medications that have a … blood thinning effect, so they can have more serious injuries,” said Dr. Patricia Paz, chair of Emergency Medicine at Trinity Health in Livonia. “What we would think … would be more minor trauma for most people, it can be major trauma, including brain surgery for some.” 

Cold, snow dangers

Paz said she sees a lot of patients who have experienced hypothermia or frostbite, which can lead to serious damage. 

“The body tries to survive by shuttling the blood flow to the center of the body for the vital organs and so there's less blood flow to your fingers and your extremities that are further away from your heart, because it's trying to survive,” she said. “So those tissues die off when they're not getting enough circulation and warmth from the blood flow.”  

After a nearly drought-like winter in 2024, this year there has been more snowfall across most of the state. 

When shoveling this snow or using a snowblower, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends that individuals first warm their muscles, as shoveling is an aerobic exercise. Pushing the snow as opposed to lifting it can also avoid back injuries.

Snowblowers pose their own dangers. Emergency rooms handled 4,700 snowblower-related injuries in 2022, according to a 2023 report from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. More than a third of the injuries involved the wrist, hands or fingers. 

You should never put your hand in a snowblower. After turning off the machine and waiting for the blades to stop rotating, safety experts suggest using a chute clearing tool, broom handle or stick to clear snow from the discharge chute. 

Avoiding winter-related injuries 

Being prepared for winter weather can decrease the chances of a winter-related injury and ultimately a trip to the emergency room. 

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that individuals: 

• Stay off the ice to avoid slipping and falling 
• Carefully watch for signs of cold-weather health problems, like hypothermia and frostbite
• Dress warmly when doing outdoor chores because cold weather puts an extra strain on the heart. 
• Wear fabrics that will hold more body heat and an insulation layer that helps trap heat. 
• Stay dry, as wet clothing chills the body quickly.