THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 9, 1996 TAG: 9601090239
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: THE BLIZZARD OF '96
SOURCE: BY MARIE JOYCE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
Snow, it seems, wasn't the only thing falling around Hampton Roads on Monday.
Local hospital emergency rooms reported few cases of major trauma but many cases of bumps, bruises and breaks, thanks to icy sidewalks and parking lots.
People fell on the job. Sentara Hampton General Hospital treated four postal workers who suffered accidents on their rounds.
Snow worshipers fell in the pursuit of pleasure. Chesapeake General Hospital saw some patients who got hurt sledding at Mount Trashmore.
And some people fell just trying to get through the day, slipping and breaking an arm en route to the mailbox or sliding while negotiating a slick parking lot.
``We're seeing a lot of falls, and really (all) age groups,'' said Christine B. Wagner, spokeswoman for DePaul Medical Center.
And at Chesapeake General, ``They're just seeing about every kind of broken bone you can imagine,'' said spokeswoman Mindy Hughes.
At Obici Hospital in Suffolk, the gurneys were lined up in the hall and the radiology department was working frenetically to get all the needed X-rays.
Most of the injuries treated Monday at emergency rooms were not serious, and most people went home after treatment.
But some people were hurt more severely. A DePaul patient had fractured his tibia, the bone between the knee and the ankle, and was slated for surgery to have it reinforced with a rod. Several other hospitals also had patients who required surgery or hospitalization.
And there's no counting how many folks just decided to tough it out at home.
Mark Tarkington is one of those. The Virginia Beach resident was walking along 19th Street on some errands when he planted his foot on a patch of ice.
``Whoo - there I go. I didn't even see (the ice). The snow covered it,'' he said.
Tarkington landed on his back and lay there for awhile while passers-by called an ambulance. Eventually, he was able to move around and decided against seeing a doctor. He doesn't have health insurance.
Hospitals also treated some minor injuries from fender-benders on the slick roads.
Sentara's physicians' offices saw a lot of cold and flu cases, and at least one pediatrician's office contacted said infections brought in patients Monday.
``We have those dedicated parents who want to get those ear infections out of the way,'' said receptionist Pam Gregory at Chesapeake Pediatrics.
Except for the increase in fall-related injuries, hospitals were mostly unaffected by the storm. None of Norfolk's acute-care hospitals lost power when electricity was shut off to parts of the city. All acute-care hospitals in South Hampton Roads have backup generators.
All facilities began making emergency plans Sunday or early Monday, but none had to rely on them much. Four-wheel-drive car pools got staff to work in some cases, and most surgery - even elective procedures - went on as scheduled. Only a few patients and doctors had to cancel because of transportation problems.
``Our head of radiology said, `I can't believe it, but these outpatients are still showing up for their tests,' '' said Susan D. Stone, spokeswoman for Obici Hospital.
The only exception was Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters in Norfolk, where in some specialty clinics as many as half of nonurgent appointments were canceled by parents.
``You're going outside with the children - I think people think twice about that,'' said King's Daughters administrator Jim Dahling. MEMO: Staff writer Debra Gordon contributed to this story.
ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
HUY NGUYEN
The Virginian-Pilot
Steve Nashi tends to Becky Griffin's wrist at Obici Hospital in
Suffolk. Griffin, 15, fell on ice.
BILL TIERNAN
The Virginian-Pilot
Virginia Beach fire and rescue personnel help Mark Tarkington after
he slipped on ice that was hidden by snow on 19th Street near the
Pavilion Monday afternoon. He was not seriously injured.
KEYWORDS: WINTER STORM BLIZZARD by CNB