INJURIES RELATED TO WIND-SPEED

This is a retrospective study of the injuries caused by high wind speeds during the storms of early 1990. Injured patients seen on windy days were compared with those seen on a group of control days. It was found that high wind speeds were associated with an increased risk of injury, especially when wind gusts exceeded 60 knots. This apparent wind speed threshold, above which injury is more likely, corresponds to the curve used by the Meteorological Office to predict wind-related structural damage. It is postulated that this finding may be of use in assisting the Government in formulating its guidelines on when to warn the public that it is unsafe to venture out.