Health Update: Student Health and Wellness reports 25 snow-related injuries during January’s storm – The Cavalier Daily – What Experts Say

In the final week of January, the University experienced a severe snowstorm that resulted in five inches of snowfall and ice accumulation on Grounds. In addition to causing the cancellation and delay of in-person instruction for three days, the snowstorm also resulted in at least 25 student injuries — including sprains, abrasions and bruising — according to Student Health and Wellness.

Amidst the snowfall, which began Jan. 24, the University canceled in-person instruction on both Jan. 26 and Jan. 27. The University also delayed the start of in-person instruction Jan. 28 until 10:00 a.m.

During the period when in-person instruction was canceled, SHW operated remotely through telemedicine visits Jan. 26 and Jan. 27. According to Danielle D’Andrea, director of marketing and communications for Student Health and Wellness, SHW did not report any students presenting with snow or ice-related injuries on either of those days. Following the resumption of in-person operations Jan. 28, however, SHW reported a total of seven snow and ice-related injuries between Jan. 28 and Feb. 1. 

In a statement to The Cavalier Daily, Student Health and Wellness clinicians said they saw a higher volume of students coming in for injuries attributed to winter weather than in previous years. More specifically, SHW evaluated 25 patients between Jan. 29 and Feb. 3 for snow and ice-related injuries. U.Va. Health, during the same period, saw 20 patients for similar storm-related injuries. 

According to D’Andrea, the most common snow-related injuries that SHW has seen this year have been sprains, strains, bruising, abrasions and suspected fractures after slipping on icy surfaces or participating in outdoor activities such as sledding or snowball fights. 

As the University transitioned back to in-person instruction, some community members said they felt the University had not adequately prepared for this storm and was therefore unable to successfully remove snow and ice. 

Second-year Engineering student Evelyn Trudel said that following an injury after the snowstorm, she was only able to receive virtual care at SHW due to in-person closures. Trudel said that as a result, she felt they were not able to fully evaluate her injury. 

“I had a virtual appointment, but they couldn’t really tell me [what was wrong] …There was [also] no option to schedule online appointments,” Trudel said. “I had to call and do it over the phone … that wasn’t well documented to students, so no one really knew how to deal with what was going on.” 

Trudel also said she thinks it would be beneficial to have a medical provider in-person at SHW to evaluate physical injuries during future snow storms. 

Students also voiced concerns about sidewalk and road conditions around Grounds, creating unsafe conditions for students walking to class. Second-year College student Kiersten Bruns said she believes sidewalk and road conditions near Jefferson Park Avenue worsened throughout the week of the storm, even after the University resumed in-person instruction. 

“The roads weren’t even close to being safe and sidewalks got worse over the next couple days as the snow would melt and then refreeze into more ice overnight,” Bruns said. “I know many people who lived near me who fell on their way to class, including myself.” 

Bruns also said that many of her professors continued to cancel classes beyond the initial University-wide cancellations because they were aware of the poor road and sidewalk conditions on Grounds and in the surrounding neighborhoods.

According to D’Andrea, SHW does not believe that the injuries due to snow and ice can be solely attributed to students traveling to and from class. She said SHW tends to see an increase in snow-related injuries whenever there is winter weather that creates icy or uneven walking conditions, no matter if classes have resumed. 

“These injuries occur in a range of circumstances, including routine walking around Grounds, recreational activities such as snowball fights, and, in some cases, alcohol-related incidents, not solely while students are traveling to or from class,” Dandrea said. 

D’Andrea also said that it is difficult to attribute the University’s resumption of in-person operations to increased injuries because students commonly wait after they have been injured before getting care, depending on their academic schedules and personal availability. 

According to D’Andrea, SHW does not typically track specific snow and ice-related injuries, but started tracking these injuries amid January’s particular snowstorm. 

D’Andrea recommends students exercise caution when traveling around Grounds in wintery conditions by wearing warm clothes and shoes with adequate traction, using handrails and allowing extra time while going to class in order to prevent injuries. 

Students can book both in-person and virtual appointments with SHW through the HealthyHoos patient portal.