The Irish Red Cross (IRC) has appealed to the public to give the weather “the respect it deserves” after providing assistance to at least 150 people stranded in the icy conditions.
National vice-chairman Tony Lawlor said the agency has helped people stranded in cars and dropped food to isolated areas but is principally providing back-up assistance to the HSE through its fleet of 20 4x4 ambulances.
"In Wicklow we have been asked to assist in the transport of public health nurses to isolated clients with the four-wheel drive vehicles, and we've already provided transport of key medical personnel from their homes to hospital where their homes were in such a location it wasn't possible to drive in ordinary transport," Mr Lawlor told The Irish Times.
Last Tuesday six IRC vehicles were called in to supplement the HSE’s ambulance service in Dublin after the inclement weather led to services being stretched because of a proliferation of fractures and other injuries.
Several other ambulances have also been loaned to the HSE in Waterford and Wexford.
Mr Lawlor said the two mountain rescue teams affiliated to the Red Cross - Glen of Imaal team in Wicklow and the Sligo/Leitrim team – are also on call to help motorists who may become stranded in their cars.
He appealed to people to look at the tips on their website for advice on coping with accidents and illnesses brought on by the extreme weather.
Mr Lawlor said to date the agency had only received a small number of calls with regard to dealing with people in isolated areas but the agency would consider increasing evacuation and meals and wheels services if needed.
“In some respects, because everyone expects the weather to improve in one or two days, what’s happening is people probably soldier on and maybe they are not aware that there are resources that could assist them,“ Mr Lawlor said.
Eamon Timmins of Age Action Ireland urged older people stranded at home to seek help from the HSE and local community health centres before they get too ill and are unable to do so.
Although public health nurses around the country have been checking patients on their databases Mr Timmins said he is concerned about people who are “not on the list” and are now in a “very serious situation”.
“We are talking about people down the country, people living at the end of boreens which are like glass, nobody’s going to go up to it . . . . if there is someone at the end of that lane way and they’re in trouble its important that they make contact with the HSE.”
He said people should ring the HSE information line on 1850 24 1850 and “raise the alarm before it get too serious”.
He also asked people to concentrate on visiting socially isolated older people especially those who are not “at the heart and soul of the community” and who may have been forgotten.
He said the current weather had created a “crisis” around the country for older people as some could be up to three weeks without food, fuel and medication.
“We are very concerned that in a week or 10 days or whenever this thaw ends we’re going to find a lot of people in very, very serious distress unless people act today,” he added.
In a statement this evening, the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament also urged immediate action to ensure people have heat and hot food.
Speaking today Mairead Hayes CEO of the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament said: “This is the longest and coldest period of weather in Ireland for over 50 years. Decisive action must be taken now to deal with it. All efforts must be made to protect life and limb. This is an emergency and all organs of government must be mobilised to deal with it.”
Elsewhere, the HSE said tonight that hospitals across the State are witnessing a "significant upsurge" in the number of injuries related to the current cold snap.
In a statement, the HSE said people suffering sprains, fractures and cuts as a result of slips and falls on icy roads and footpaths are presenting themselves to health services.
Consultants are reporting that a high percentage of these fractures are complex, requiring surgery. "The minimum increases in the number of people presenting with fractures in the last week are in the order of 30 per cent with a large number of hospitals experiencing a year-on-year increase for the period of 70 per cent or more," the HSE said.
However, it added most hospitals are managing to see patients without having to cancel elective surgeries.
"Despite the challenges faced by community based health services in some areas, services are being provided by the HSE with the support of staff and other agencies."
