Multiple Chiefs fans who suffered frostbite at frigid playoff game need amputations

The Kansas City Chiefs’ playoff game against the Miami Dolphins left a lasting impact on some fans at Arrowhead Stadium – and not a good one. Though the Chiefs beat the Dolphins to move on in the playoffs and eventually won the Super Bowl, several of their fans reportedly suffered frostbite that was so bad, that some are headed for amputations after the game in -4 degree weather. The windchill on that Sunday in K.C. made temperatures feel much lower, down to -27 degrees.

Dr. Megan Garcia, the medical director of Grossman Burn Center, recently discussed the impact of the frostbite on patients who attended the game between the Chiefs and Dolphins. Garcia spoke at a gathering for burn survivors on Tuesday evening. The burn center is now also dealing with injuries from the extreme weather this winter.

“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,” Garcia said Tuesday, sharing that 70% of the patients referred for frostbite injuries suffered are now being advised to schedule amputations.

Chiefs fans sat through fourth coldest game in NFL history

Even if 30% of the victims of frostbite from that playoff game don’t need amputations, they’ll still be dealing with their injuries for years to come.

“It’s still a lifelong process,” Garcia said. “They’ll have sensitivity and pain for the rest of their lives and always will be more 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.”

On the day of the game, Kansas City first responders received approximately 69 calls to Arrowhead Stadium during the game, including 15 people who needed to be transported to the hospital. Images coming out of Kansas City were shocking to many. That included Chiefs head coach Andy Reid pacing the sidelines with icicles forming on his frozen mustache. Shortly before the Kansas City-Miami game started, a video from the stadium went viral. In the video, a worker pulled a water bottle out from a fridge at a concession stand only for the water to immediately freeze.

Freezing temperatures for playoff games were a theme for the Chiefs this year. After beating Miami, Kansas City went on to face the Buffalo Bills in Highmark Stadium. The snowballs that fans were able to form from all the snow around the stadium were used to pelt quarterback Patrick Mahomes and other players after the game.