Key points from today’s guests:
Dr. Dennis Allin, emergency medicine physician, The University of Kansas Health System
- The Kansas City Chiefs and the medical team are prepared for this weekend’s bitter cold during the first playoff game of the season.
- First aid stations will be staffed and ready.
- Frostbite is the main concern. It is important for the staff to diagnose it properly because getting frostbite and going back into the cold is one of the worst things you can do.
- Gloves and handwarmers will be available if needed for kids.
- Be careful with alcohol use. It can be dangerous for some people in cold weather.
- Dress for C-O-L-D:
- CLEAN clothes
- Avoid OVERHEATING
- Use 2+ LAYERS
- Stay DRY
- Dress in extra layers when attending the Chiefs game.
Dr. J.P. Darche, sports medicine physician, The University of Kansas Health System
- As a former professional player, the game is different when the weather is this frigid.
- A frozen ground makes it more likely for concussions. Players who aren’t warmed up can also be more likely to sustain soft-tissue injuries.
- The key is to keep hands warm for players and to stay dry.
- Home team players have an advantage because they may already be accustomed to the cold versus visiting players, especially from Miami, who might be experiencing this extreme weather for the first time.
A recap of cold weather tips includes:
- Make sure kids are bundled if they go outside to play. Frostbite can occur in as little as 15 minutes, so make sure exposed skin is covered.
- Heart attacks are a real factor in cold weather. It may be the first time many people are exerting energy like this which may present an underlying heart issue.
- Older people may need some extra help, so reach out to older family members and neighbors to see if they need anything so they don’t have to go out in cold, icy conditions.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System
- This week, we are at 33 COVID patients with six in the ICU.
- An ABC News article asks why 1,500 Americans are still dying each week from COVID. We know that COVID is still impacting lives.
- There are many factors as to why. Mainly, this has become a disease of those people whose age and comorbidities can make them more vulnerable.
- Also, a lack of people using vaccines and anti-viral treatments can negatively impact outcomes.
There will be no program on Monday, January 15 due to Martin Luther King Day. Wednesday, January 17 at 8 a.m. is the next Open Mics with Dr. Stites. A rare condition comes with a choice -- remove the colon or wait for cancer. Learn about new research aimed at delaying cancer as long as possible.
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