By Allison G. S. Knox
Contributor, EDM Digest
For many northeasterners, the thought of another snowstorm plowing through their area has cozy thoughts of hot chocolate and sledding adventures followed by the saddened reality of having to dig out of the mess. In the winter, [link url=”http://www.fox21online.com/2017/01/12/snow-blower-sales-increasing-steady-snowfall/” title=”sales for snow shovels and snowblowers”] unsurprisingly goes up as people within the snow belt plan their season for the numerous snowstorms they’re going to dig themselves out of. While snow means that many people will inevitably have to dig themselves out, it also means that ambulance agencies may see an increase in cardiac-related emergencies as a direct result of the snowstorm. Emergency medical technicians and paramedics are well trained and ready for any cardiac emergency – but, perhaps after a snowstorm, they should check their ambulances just a little more thoroughly for cardiac-related supplies and equipment.
Cardiac-Related Emergencies
Cardiac-related emergencies often happen after physical exertion. In the summer, individuals could suffer cardiac emergencies – potentially [link url=”http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/155919-overview” title=”myocardial infarctions”] or heart attacks after [link url=”https://www.ems1.com/medical-clinical/articles/1970287-Clinical-solution-Chest-pain-while-mowing-the-lawn/” title=”mowing the grass”]. In the winter, this same physical exertion can come after shoveling the snow, especially when the snow is heavy and there is a lot of it to move. One study found that the emergency departments often won’t see a lot of cardiac-related emergencies on the day of a blizzard, but they will in the days following the storm. [link url=”http://www.cbsnews.com/news/snowstorms-may-lead-to-blizzard-of-heart-troubles/” title=”Often, this is a result of having to clean up and dig out of the snow.”] This isn’t a relatively new phenomenon either. [link url=”http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.69.10.1050″ title=”In 1978, two researchers found that in the days following a blizzard, there was an increase in cardiac-related emergencies and deaths.”]
Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic Training
Emergency medical technicians and paramedics are trained to act in cardiac-related emergencies. Because of this and the myriad inservice trainings and continuing education classes they’re required to do to keep their certifications and licenses, they are almost always ready for cardiac-related emergencies. Further, ambulances are almost always stocked with the supplies and equipment needed for such 911 emergencies.
Double-Checking the Ambulance
Because of cardiac-related emergencies after a blizzard, emergency medical technicians and paramedics should double-check their ambulances, regardless of whether or not they know their ambulance has the equipment they need. Doing so will only tighten their response to such a 911 call. While it can be difficult to know what the next 911 call will be, knowing that there is often an increase in cardiac-related emergencies after a major storm can help ambulance agencies to preeminently prepare for these emergencies before they happen.
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