WGEM.com: Quincy News, Weather, Sports, and RadioWeather injuries bring in record numbers to area ER's

Weather injuries bring in record numbers to area ER's

HANNIBAL, Mo. (WGEM) -- Local emergency rooms are seeing a record number of patients since this winter storm started.

Curt Schneider dresses for a bitter winter job, as he works to clear his driveway.

"It's not bad, I've got my carharts on, they're nice...my face is a little frozen but that's ok," says Schnieder.

But it's a fine line between being a little cold, and suffering from more serious injuries...like E-R Doctors at Hannibal Regional Hospital have been dealing with.

"It's a bit worse than we've seen in the past in this area particularly with all the snow and ice and the changing weather almost on a daily basis," says Dr. Miller

Doctor Miller says the most common injuries are from slips and falls.

"We've seen a lot of broken bones particularly some hip fractures and wrist fractures," says Dr. Miller.

Instead of wearing shoes with a flat sole, doctors recommend wearing shoes like this with rubber soles and good traction that will grip the snow and ice

When it's this cold out doctors recommend keeping your time outdoors to a minimum...but if you have to clear you driveway like Curt Schneider, make sure you bundle up to stay warm

"I'm about done one pass down there and I think I'll get the shovel out and finish up," says Schneider.

Doctors say that although the elderly are most at risk, slips and fall can happen to anyone especially when you can't see the black ice.