Snow or shine, sickness still happens

[okarol]

Snow or shine, sickness still happens

By ZACH PLUHACEK / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Sunday, December 27, 2009 11:35 pm

Rescue workers and emergency volunteers drove doubletime over the weekend, picking up overdue dialysis patients, hospital workers and others unable to overcome mountainous snowdrifts in Lincoln.

They even used two military ambulances - all-wheel drive Humvees courtesy of the National Guard.

"They have been extremely busy," said Doug Ahlberg, Lancaster County's emergency management coordinator.

Lincoln Fire & Rescue saw an increase in its number of patients needing ambulance transports. Many of those patients were stuck at home earlier in the week, and their conditions had worsened without medical attention, said Battalion Chief Dean Staberg.

Lincoln rescue workers had responded to 47 medical emergencies as of about 8 p.m. Sunday.

In addition to the fire department's services, shifts of about 12 emergency management volunteers drove hundreds of people - patients, hospital staff and 911 operators - around the area.

Sherry Fougeron, a nursing supervisor at BryanLGH Medical Center East, said the emergency room there was pretty crowded Sunday.

She was an hour late for work because her street had yet to be plowed, she said. Her husband had to use a snowblower to clear a path in the road.

"He got out with the four-wheel-drive pickup," she said.

Hospital staff volunteered to pick up fellow workers who couldn't drive.

When those volunteers' trucks and SUVs couldn't make it through the snow, the hospital called the emergency management volunteers.

Ahlberg said it's his job to help people out in emergencies, but he still thinks people should plan more in advance and be more careful, even if a storm happens during the holidays.

Officials say people using medications should stock up on them before major weather events. Also, they say, those needing regular medical treatment should, if possible, arrange for reliable transportation.

"We talk about preparing for eventualities," he said. "Well, this was an eventuality."

Reach Zach Pluhacek at 473-7234 or zpluhacek@journalstar.com.

PHOTO BELOW: One of two military Humvee ambulances being used by Lincoln Fire and Rescue parked inside Fire Station no. 8 Sunday, December 27, 2009. (ERIN DUERR / Lincoln Journal Star)
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