All of a New York man’s toes had to be amputated because he walked one hour in the snow wearing dress shoes
Gloves, mittens and socks help protect our extremities from the cold, but the consequences can be devastating if they get wet for too long. Frostbite can set in in 30 minutes.
Dr. Richard Korentager, a plastic surgeon at the University of Kansas Hospital, said "It's not only the temperature, it's the wetness that's such a big problem."
CASUALTY OF THE FREEZE: MAN HAS ALL HIS TOES AMPUTATED AFTER WALKING HOME THROUGH SNOW IN DRESS SHOES AFTER CAR BROKE DOWN
By Ted Thornhill
Mail Online
February 12, 2014
A 22-year-old learnt the hard way about the dangers of donning inappropriate clothing in freezing temperatures after a walk in the snow wearing dress shoes cost him his toes.
Evan Harter, from Plattsburg, New York, battled home through Arctic conditions last December after his car broke down wearing clothing best suited for a dinner party – and paid the price.
He went to bed while wearing his wet socks and woke up to purple ankles and feet.
He said: ‘It took me about an hour to walk home. I was wearing dress slippers, a nice shirt, a jacket, long underwear, no gloves and actually no hat. My feet were purple from the ankle all the way to the toes.’
Harter’s fingernails had also turned black.
The average maximum temperature in Plattsburg in December is just 0C – and Harter, who will have to learn to walk again, can clearly see now that he should have wrapped up properly.
He added: ‘Always keep extra clothes in your car definitely no matter what.’
Frostbite strikes during temperatures below minus 0.55ºC (31ºF) and can affect any part of the body, though it's normally the extremities such as hands, feet, ears, nose and lips, that suffer, according to the UK's NHS website.
The first symptoms are tissue and skin feeling cold and painful, followed by pins and needles and then numbness.
No comments:
Post a Comment