Winter Storm Blair brought intense blizzard conditions to the regions Jan. 5-6, with Missouri and Kansas among the hardest-hit states.
Severe winter weather often strains hospital emergency departments, as frigid temperatures and icy conditions heighten the risk of injuries such as hypothermia, slip-and-fall accidents and motor vehicle accidents.
Kansas City, Mo.-based HCA Midwest Health has treated more than 150 patients for weather-related injuries across its 11 emergency rooms since the storm started, according to WDAF-TV. Many injuries have involved sprains, broken bones and head injuries from patients slipping on ice.
University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City also reported an increase in winter weather-related injuries, including cold exposures, hypothermia and frostbite.
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