ERs expect to be busy this weekend

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There's the traditional, and then there's the unexpected. Thanksgiving is typically a busy day at local emergency rooms.

St. Mark's Emergency Department Doctor Brian Shiozawa says it usually starts off slow, then gets busy with turkey bowl injuries, car crashes, some gastrointestinal problems and, this year, maybe more psychiatric problems.

"There's more stressors than usual with the economy, and frankly, the specter of the holiday season that may be more grim," Shiozawa said.

He says there's another element with visitors from out of town. Many out-of-towners who get ill will use the ER, whereas they'd go to their family doctor at home.

E-mail: mgiauque@ksl.com