What Researchers Did
Researchers reported on the impact of the 1998 eastern Canada ice storm on healthcare services, gathering data through non-structured interviews with those involved.
What They Found
The 1998 ice storm left 1.4 million households without power, compromising non-emergency services in most hospitals despite larger facilities having emergency generators. Emergency departments saw a marked increase in visits, and 50 people required hyperbaric oxygen for carbon monoxide poisoning, with six fatalities.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
During widespread power outages like the 1998 ice storm, Canadian patients can expect disruptions to non-emergency medical services and increased demand on emergency departments. Patients dependent on power for home care may need to be transported to hospitals, and there is an increased risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from alternative heating sources.
Canadian Relevance
This study is directly relevant to Canada as it details the impact of a major ice storm on healthcare infrastructure and patient care in eastern Canada.
Study Limitations
A limitation of this report is that data were obtained through non-structured interviews, which may introduce bias or limit the depth of quantitative analysis.