Being in the extreme cold comes with some serious health risks. After this season’s NFL playoff games in freezing temperatures, some football fans are finding that out the hard way.
January’s Wild Card matchup between the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium saw temperatures dip below -4 degrees with a wind chill of -27 degrees at kickoff. It was the fourth-coldest game in NFL history and the coldest in Chiefs history.
Now, some fans who attended that game and suffered frostbite are being referred to schedule serious medical procedures.
NFL Fans With Frostbite Injuries From Dolphins-Chiefs Playoff Game Need Amputations
According to Fox 4 in Kansas City, some fans who suffered frostbite at the Dolphins vs. Chiefs Wild Card game in January might need amputations.
The medical director at the Grossman Burn Center at Research Medical Center says 70% of patients referred for frostbite during January’s freezing cold temperatures in Kansas City are now being told to schedule amputations. The majority of those frostbite victims attended the Chiefs playoff victory over the Dolphins.
“The patients who had their frostbite injuries along with the Chiefs game, they are just getting to the point now we are starting to discuss their amputations that might be necessary,” Dr. Megan Garcia at Grossman Burn Center said.
Back in January, Garcia correctly predicted that she would be seeing amputation patients due to freezing cold temperatures in Kansas City.
“In this cold spell we’ve been having, I’ve seen multiple patients that will likely require amputations five to six weeks from now,” Garcia said back in January.
Garcia elaborated that the remaining estimated 30% lucky enough to avoid amputations after undergoing treatment the last few weeks in hyperbaric oxygen tanks will have plenty of daily reminders about their frostbite injuries.
“It’s still a lifelong process. They’ll have sensitivity and pain for the rest of their lives and always will be susceptible to frostbite in the future. So we are also educating them to make sure they stay warm for the years and months to come,” Garcia said.
KEEP READING: Dolphins Player Suggests NFL Should Have Postponed Playoff Game in Kansas City on Wild Card Weekend
At this point, the NFL does not have a threshold to postpone, move, or cancel games due to cold weather. However, due to these reports of Chiefs fans having to undergo amputations from attending a playoff game, we might see that change in the very near future.
While nobody is forcing fans to attend, it is possible that the NFL could create some sort of policy to refund tickets when temperatures are too dangerous for fans.
Miss football? The 2024 NFL Draft is almost here, boss. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!
