Slippery sidewalks send dozens to Regina emergency wards

Slippery sidewalks sent dozens of Regina residents to the emergency room on the weekend.

Eighteen to 20 people were treated at each hospital site on Saturday and early Sunday after taking tumbles on slick sidewalks, said Glen Perchie, executive director of EMS and ambulatory care for the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region.

Broken wrists, broken ankles, broken elbows, lots of sprains and strains ... kind of the whole works.- health region spokesman Glen Perchie

"Lots of dislocations, couple of broken hips. Broken wrists, broken ankles, broken elbows, lots of sprains and strains," Perchie said. "Kind of the whole works."

There was also at least one serious head injury on the weekend.

Emergency rooms were particularly busy on Saturday morning when freezing rain was coming down, Perchie said.

"We just had clusters of patients coming in," he said.

People have to be extremely careful negotiating the sidewalks, he said.

"Really watch where you're stepping," he said. "It's a lot slicker than it looks."