3 injured after single boat crash in Cape CoralAll lanes on Immokalee Road closed due to vehicle collision
CAPE CORAL 3 injured after single boat crash in Cape Coral According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, three people were injured in a single boat crash in Cape Coral.
IMMOKALEE All lanes on Immokalee Road closed due to vehicle collision According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, a vehicle collision occurred on Immokalee Road Sunday night.
NAPLES Body found in Collier County retention pond According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, a body was found in a retention pond on Sunday. The body was found on Lindsey Lane.
NAPLES Naples police rescue injured owl outside station Naples police officers took on an unusual task when they rescued an injured owl outside the police department.
PORT CHARLOTTE 2 suspects in custody after allegedly stealing $1500 worth of vapes According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, two suspects are in custody after stealing $1500 worth of vapes early Sunday morning.
WINK Neighborhood Watch: knife attack, robbery at gunpoint and hit-and-run This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a knife attack, a robbery at gunpoint and a hit-and-run on a bicyclist.
FORT MYERS Former Uber driver convicted of rape to be sentenced Monday Felix Torres, a former Uber driver, was found guilty in December of raping one of his passengers and will be sentenced Monday.
the weather authority Sunnier, less humid day in store with highs in the low 70s The Weather Authority says a pleasant day is in store for Southwest Florida, with much more sunshine than we saw on Saturday.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads-Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox-Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Police department hosts annual Cops and Joggers 5K FMPD hosted the Cops and Joggers 5K event on Saturday. This unique experience takes attendees through the heart of Downtown Fort Myers.
Purple Heart Army veteran receives new home thanks to charity A Purple Heart Army veteran and his family entered their new accessible home on Saturday, thanks to the charity “Homes for Our Troops.”
CAPE CORAL Rain doesn’t stop crowds at 40th Annual Cape Coral Arts Festival For 40 years, the Cape Coral Arts Festival has drawn crowds from across Southwest Florida, showcasing a blend of small businesses from the region.
CAPE CORAL Sports trading card collecting going through “a generational reboot” The hobby of sports trading card collecting has been on the rise since 2020, especially in Southwest Florida with more card shows.
PUNTA GORDA 11th annual short film festival coming to Punta Gorda The Punta Gorda Englewood Beach Visitor Convention Bureau will host its 11th annual short film festival.
the weather authority Mild, breezy day on tap with more clouds than sun The Weather Authority says a brief line of showers, associated with a cold front, is moving through Southwest Florida Saturday morning.
CAPE CORAL 3 injured after single boat crash in Cape Coral According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, three people were injured in a single boat crash in Cape Coral.
IMMOKALEE All lanes on Immokalee Road closed due to vehicle collision According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, a vehicle collision occurred on Immokalee Road Sunday night.
NAPLES Body found in Collier County retention pond According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, a body was found in a retention pond on Sunday. The body was found on Lindsey Lane.
NAPLES Naples police rescue injured owl outside station Naples police officers took on an unusual task when they rescued an injured owl outside the police department.
PORT CHARLOTTE 2 suspects in custody after allegedly stealing $1500 worth of vapes According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, two suspects are in custody after stealing $1500 worth of vapes early Sunday morning.
WINK Neighborhood Watch: knife attack, robbery at gunpoint and hit-and-run This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a knife attack, a robbery at gunpoint and a hit-and-run on a bicyclist.
FORT MYERS Former Uber driver convicted of rape to be sentenced Monday Felix Torres, a former Uber driver, was found guilty in December of raping one of his passengers and will be sentenced Monday.
the weather authority Sunnier, less humid day in store with highs in the low 70s The Weather Authority says a pleasant day is in store for Southwest Florida, with much more sunshine than we saw on Saturday.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads-Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox-Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Police department hosts annual Cops and Joggers 5K FMPD hosted the Cops and Joggers 5K event on Saturday. This unique experience takes attendees through the heart of Downtown Fort Myers.
Purple Heart Army veteran receives new home thanks to charity A Purple Heart Army veteran and his family entered their new accessible home on Saturday, thanks to the charity “Homes for Our Troops.”
CAPE CORAL Rain doesn’t stop crowds at 40th Annual Cape Coral Arts Festival For 40 years, the Cape Coral Arts Festival has drawn crowds from across Southwest Florida, showcasing a blend of small businesses from the region.
CAPE CORAL Sports trading card collecting going through “a generational reboot” The hobby of sports trading card collecting has been on the rise since 2020, especially in Southwest Florida with more card shows.
PUNTA GORDA 11th annual short film festival coming to Punta Gorda The Punta Gorda Englewood Beach Visitor Convention Bureau will host its 11th annual short film festival.
the weather authority Mild, breezy day on tap with more clouds than sun The Weather Authority says a brief line of showers, associated with a cold front, is moving through Southwest Florida Saturday morning.
As is often the case this time of year, local emergency rooms are filling up, driven in large part by the flu, COVID-19, RSV and other sicknesses that are going around. Lee Health addressed concerns about long wait times and what you need to know to get the quickest medical care. It’s a rite of season. Florida fills up in the winter, and people get sick. Lee Health hospitals are near the breaking point. RELATED: Lee Health experiencing higher influx of patients amid cold and flu season Marcie Stidams, Emergency Department Director of Lee Health, said, “Just yesterday, we had 951 patients visit our emergency departments. Overall, our hospitals are at more than 90% capacity. That demand pushes ER wait times. A WINK News viewer, Ellen Levitt, waited more than an hour when she took her 90-year-old dad to the ER because he had underlying conditions and was very sick. “They took some blood, and that was about three o’clock, and we waited, and we waited, and we waited, and we waited and we waited,” Levitt said. Long waits are leading the health system to offer alternative solutions. The key to being seen quickly is to determine the right location. Lee Health said they have a number of opportunities for care. Lee Health is promoting a ‘symptom checker’ feature on its website. Dr. Iahn Gonsenhauser, Chief Medical Officer at Lee Health, said, “That allows you to input your symptoms on the site and will detail for you where your best environment to head to maybe.” Based on a series of questions, it may direct patients to convenient care, a hospital at home or the ER. It even provides insights as to how busy a facility is in real-time. The biggest bottleneck seems to be the ER, which is not necessarily the fastest solution. “Not all injuries or illnesses require a trip to the ER,” Gonsenhauser said. At the emergency room, patients are triaged and then sorted based on level of need. We asked if someone with the flu might end up waiting longer to be seen because they aren’t considered a severe emergency. “Depending upon the demands in the ER, that’s exactly how that would work,” Gonsenhauser said. The takeaway is to understand the options and know there’s an outlet for everyone. Some of these features may be new to you. Click here for more information. The health system also emphasizes prevention to avoid getting sick. That includes taking whatever vaccines you are comfortable with and using proper hygiene.