Latest news with #WakeMed
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Triangle hospitals are seeing an increase in snake bite cases this year
Extreme heat has plagued the Triangle for several days already this year. And as temperatures have risen, local emergency departments have reported an increase in visits from snake bite patients. Snakes become more active during spring and summer months, said Dr. Ben German, an emergency department physician at WakeMed. Humans do, too, and that's one of the reasons why more snake bites occur during warmer times of year. On really hot days, though, snakes become more nocturnal, and people spend time outdoors later in the afternoons and evening. 'Around dusk seems to be the prime time for snake bites as we get into this time of year, because again, the snakes and people are more active together, and it's harder to see them,' German said. Some of these bites may be attributed to copperheads. The brown, Hershey's Kiss-shaped patterned snakes are the most common venomous snakes Triangle residents are likely to come across, and are one of just a handful of venomous snakes that live in North Carolina. Copperhead bites are rarely fatal for humans, but they may need to be treated with antivenom. The News & Observer asked WakeMed, UNC Health and Duke Health about how many patients with snake bites have been treated at their emergency departments so far this year. So far this year, WakeMed has treated slightly more snake bite cases than the same period last year. ▪ From Jan. 1-July 6, WakeMed saw 59 patients with snake bites. Of those, 33 received antivenom. ▪ Over the same period in 2024, 55 people came to WakeMed Emergency Departments with a snake bite, and 31 of them were treated with antivenom. German said snake bite cases have generally increased yearly since he began working at WakeMed in 2006, but he attributed that to an increase in the number of people moving to the area. UNC Health emergency departments have treated 112 people for snake bites so far this year. The highest number of snake bite patients visited the facilities in May and June — 39 and 45, respectively. In some of these cases, copperheads were specifically named in the diagnosis. Compared to last year, UNC Health Emergency Departments have treated more patients with snake bites so far this year. ▪ From January 2024 through early July 2024, UNC Health Emergency Departments saw 90 snake bite patients, including 45 in July. ▪ Across emergency departments, UNC Health treated at least one person with a snake bite each month in 2024. In five months — May through September — UNC Health Emergency Departments saw at least 20 people with snake bites, system-wide. And during fall and winter months, fewer patients visited emergency departments with snake bites. Duke Health hospitals typically see more than 100 patients with snake bites each year, Duke Health said in an emailed statement Thursday, July 10. And the highest number of monthly cases usually falls during July. So far this season, Duke Health has treated 33 patients with snake bites at emergency departments at three facilities — Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital and Duke Raleigh Hospital. Of those 33 cases, 11 sought treatment at Duke Health emergency departments since Tuesday, June 17. German, the WakeMed emergency physician, recommended three tips to avoid snake bites during this time of year: ▪ Wear good shoes outside. Sneakers are better than sandals, but leather shoes that cover above the ankle will work best to protect against bites to feet and lower legs. ▪ Be aware of your surroundings. Don't reach under objects or into spaces that aren't visible. Be careful when picking up debris, especially sticks, branches and mulch, which hide venomous copperheads well. ▪ If you're walking, taking out the trash or are outside for another reason later in the day or early in the morning, bring a flashlight. Have a question about your community you'd like answered? Or maybe a tip or story idea you'd like to share? The service journalism teams at The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer want to hear from you. If you have a question about the Charlotte area, send The Charlotte Observer team a question by submitting questions to this form. If you have a question about Raleigh or a Triangle area community, send The News & Observer team a question by submitting questions to this form. Do snake repellents keep snakes out of your NC yard? What experts say Snake in a drive-thru? Boa found coiled under window of Triangle McDonald's
CBS News
24-06-2025
- General
- CBS News
5 taken to North Carolina hospital after American Airlines flight hits turbulence
Five people were taken to a hospital Sunday night from Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina, where their American Airlines flight from Miami had landed safely after experiencing turbulence, officials said. American Airlines said in a statement that the plane's seatbelt sign was turned on when it encountered the rough patch, which the airline called "unexpected." "American Airlines flight 1286 with service from Miami (MIA) to Raleigh-Durham (RDU) landed safely at RDU after encountering unexpected turbulence while in flight. We thank our crew members for their professionalism and our customers for their understanding," the statement said. Three flight attendants and two passengers were taken to a local hospital after landing and have since been discharged, according to American Airlines. In a separate statement, officials at Raleigh-Durham International Airport said emergency services personnel transported all five people from the airport to WakeMed Hospital to be evaluated. A spokesperson for Wake County EMS — among several emergency crews called to the scene — said none of the injuries were considered life-threatening. Another four people were evaluated at the site by EMS workers but refused care, the spokesperson said. The Federal Aviation Administration has confirmed it will investigate the incident. "American Airlines Flight 1286 landed safely at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina around 10:50 p.m. local time on Sunday, June 22, after the crew reported possible injuries to a cabin crew and passengers due to turbulence," the agency said in a statement Monday. Lee Francis, a passenger on the flight, told CBS News affiliate WNCN that he and his family were returning home to North Carolina after taking a vacation. He recalled commotion on board amid the turbulence. "Everybody's hollering, I've got my wife's hand, she's got my kids, you know, like, we're doing the whole thing," said Francis, who also commended flight attendants for their handling of the situation. "It was wild because while they were there, I mean they're injured, those carts are super heavy, they're injured and yet they were so awesome, because they're literally telling people like, stay in your seat, don't help us, we don't know what's going on, keep your seatbelt on."
Business Journals
09-06-2025
- Health
- Business Journals
North Carolina faces worrying health care landscape
2025 State of Health Care panel event on June 5 at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. The panel featured ECU Health CEO Michael Waldrum; Cristy Page, chief academic officer at UNC Health; Dr. Seth Brody, chief physician executive at WakeMed; Mickey Foster, CEO of FirstHealth of the Carolinas; Morgan Jones, chief strategy officer at Duke Health; Greg Moon, vice president of health care strategy at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.
Axios
30-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Raleigh tries again to get bus rapid transit construction started
Raleigh is once again trying to entice a construction firm to submit a bid on building its first bus rapid transit line along New Bern Avenue. Why it matters: The city hopes bus rapid transit — and the dedicated bus lanes and stations it would bring — will be a key part of the way Raleighites get around the city as its population continues to soar. But after ceremoniously breaking ground last year, no construction has started on the BRT line. Driving the news: This week, the city put out the first of what it says will be three construction packages for companies to bid on. This is the third time the city has put out bids, with the previous two rounds not receiving any bids the city deemed workable. The first phase of the new bids would focus on a downtown section of the BRT line and then New Bern Avenue to Poole Road. Bids will be accepted until June 20. State of play: It's a critical moment for Raleigh, as the last time the city put the project out to bid, it got no responses, lengthening timelines for when the city can finish a BRT line and potentially making it more expensive. It will be the first project of its kind in North Carolina, though other U.S. cities such as Richmond have built systems. Raleigh has budgeted around $90 million for the New Bern Avenue leg of BRT. That newness kept many contractors from bidding, the city previously said. There were also concerns about how fast the city hoped the project would be completed and competition from other roadwork across the region due to Hurricane Helene. The new bid calls for a 30-month construction period for the first section of BRT. What they're saying: Het Patel, transit planning supervisor for the city of Raleigh, said in a statement to Axios the city is optimistic that the changes to the project will result in an awarded contract. The city has "had one-on-one conversations with more than 10 local and regional contractors to gather feedback that has been incorporated into this bid advertisement, which should make it more attractive," Patel said. If they award a contract this time, Patel said, the goal is to get construction started this fall or winter. Zoom in: Raleigh's first of four BRT lines will run 5.4 miles down New Bern Avenue between downtown and WakeMed and New Hope Road. Buses will operate in their own lanes, have elevated platforms at 10 stations and get priority green lights. The big picture: The BRT network will one day stretch in four directions from downtown, including a southern leg to downtown Garner, a western leg to downtown Cary and northern routes to North Hills and Triangle Town Center.
