Warning for pedestrians to take care in icy conditions

Pedestrians were today warned to take care in the icy conditions as a rise in the number of injuries attributed to slips, trips and falls was reported.

Vhi SwiftCare Clinics said nearly 800 patients had been treated for fall-related injuries over the past five days, of which approximately 325 were fractures or sprains.

It can be very easy for people of all ages to slip and fall as the temperatures plummet and paths become icy," said Dr Ray Power, Medical Director, Vhi SwiftCare Clinics.

"We would ask for everyone to take care and to be aware of the dangers during this spell of bad weather.”

The icy spell Ireland saw in January of this year also took its toll in terms of people suffering from falls, breaks, bruises and sprains with over 1,500 patients treated in the Vhi SwiftCare Clinics for fall-related injuries and illnesses in the first week of January alone.