I'd be interested in whether these sorts of generalities are national or international. My brother was an EMT eons ago (before he threw a drunk out the back door of a moving ambulance for swinging at him--and connecting--twice... ), and he used to talk about weather and other causes of chaos. I wonder if here in the Chicago area there are as many "Nan down" issues in the winter, or less (or more?), since we tend to have ice around for 3-4 months a year!