The tragic death of student nurse Anndel Taylor, age 22, serves as a somber reminder of the risks healthcare workers face when risking their lives during extreme weather conditions.
Taylor was just minutes away from home after finishing her shift at Absolut Care of Aurora Park when she became trapped in her car for over 18 hours in a snowstorm.
On Thursday, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for the entire state to begin at 6 am on Friday, December 23rd. Taylor reported to her 6am to 2 pm shift that Friday.
Unfortunately, on her way back home, Taylor encountered a nasty snowstorm that left her stranded. Reports believe she was only about 8 minutes away from the comfort of her home. During her 18-plus hour wait for help, she kept her family informed through their group chat with updates on her situation.
Although she and her family made multiple attempts to 911, they were told someone would try and get to Taylor—but no help ever arrived.
Her family believes carbon monoxide poisoning caused her death. They believe this is due to snow blocking the exhaust pipe of her car when they found her lifeless body 30 hours later – on Christmas Eve. This raises an important question: should healthcare workers have to report to work during storms or hurricanes warnings?
Read our previous story on a nurse who was shot and killed while on duty.
The Pros and Cons of Requiring Healthcare Workers To Report During Storms
The medical industry is one that cannot afford suspensions or cancellations due to storms or disasters because lives are directly dependent on it. Lives depend on these workers being able to show up for their shifts and perform their jobs without fail; this could mean transporting patients in bad weather or providing essential care despite power outages.
On the other hand, expecting healthcare workers to put themselves in potentially dangerous situations can be risky—and even deadly—as we saw with Anndel Taylor’s story.
How Can We Balance Safety With Necessity?
Finding a balance between safety and necessity is a challenge that must be met head-on if healthcare workers are expected to report for duty during natural disasters. It is essential for medical facilities to provide viable solutions to their staff during times of state emergency, so that they may safely change shifts.
Additionally, hospitals should create an emergency plan that outlines how they will handle staffing issues related to weather events or natural disasters while still maintaining patient safety as the top priority.
Employer’s Responsibilities Toward Healthcare Workers During Disasters
It’s important for employers of medical professionals to understand their responsibilities during inclement weather. Employers should work closely with their staff members during dangerous weather events and provide them with realistic expectations as well as advice on how best to stay safe while on duty.
Additionally, employers should have clear policies in place regarding attendance expectations during natural disasters so that employees know exactly what’s expected of them and how they will be protected if they are unable or unwilling to report to work due to hazardous conditions.
@tommie_shuh https://gofund.me/a2b26868 ANNDEL TAYLOR please keep my girl name alive and bring her home to Charlotte ! She will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN 👼🏾💫 Sit pretty baby and roll a FAT one 💋💞
♬ People – Libianca
Read our story on FL Nursing School Staffs Hospitals Due To Shortage
Final Thoughts
Tragically, Anndel Taylor was unable to join her family in celebration of Christmas and will forever be missing from their lives as she would have turned 23 years old next month. Her story serves as a poignant reminder of the risks nurses and healthcare workers face.
These risks are often overlooked but can result in disastrous consequences if not taken seriously by health administrators. Finding the right balance between safety and necessity is essential so that healthcare providers can continue providing crucial medical services without placing unnecessary dangers on their employees’ shoulders. By implementing a clear set of instructions from top to bottom, medical facilities can ensure both employee safety and patient care are prioritized equally during extreme weather events.
So, no actual suggestions for how to handle safety for staff and staffing for hospitals? This problem is longstanding. I was hoping there would be concrete suggestions