Emergency Services Aid 69 People for Hypothermia Symptoms During Chiefs' Super Wild Card Playoff Win

The Chilling Conditions at Arrowhead Stadium

The Chiefs’ Super Wild Card playoff win over the Miami Dolphins on Saturday was not only a victory on the field, but also a battle against the severe cold for players, coaches, and fans. The temperature at kickoff was a bone-chilling -4 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill of -20 degrees, making it the fourth coldest game in National Football League history. As the game progressed, the temperature plummeted further, reaching -9 degrees with a wind chill of -28 degrees by the end of the game, according to the Peacock broadcast.

A view of the field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City as the grounds crew removes the cover before the playoff game between the Chiefs and the Dolphins.

The freezing conditions forced players to huddle by pitch-side heaters and seek refuge on heated benches, while fans braved the cold in the stands. Despite their best efforts, emergency services were called upon to assist numerous individuals who succumbed to the below-zero temperatures. The Kansas City Fire Department (KCFD) provided aid to 69 people during the game, with approximately half of the cases related to hypothermia symptoms. Fifteen of the patients required transportation, seven for hypothermia symptoms, three for frostbite symptoms, and five for various other reasons, as reported by KCFD battalion chief Michael Hopkins to CNN.

The deep freeze that gripped the Kansas City metro area over the weekend, including during the Chiefs game, resulted in a surge of weather-related medical cases. The University of Kansas Health System reported treating 59 patients for a range of conditions including shortness of breath, exposure, heart attack from exertion, motor vehicle accidents, and slips and falls on ice. Additionally, eight patients were admitted to the hospital, and nine cases of frostbite were managed at the Burnett Burn Center. These staggering numbers highlight the profound impact of the extreme weather conditions on public health and safety.

The Response of Medical Services

The medical system responsible for providing first aid at Arrowhead Stadium has not yet released specific data on the patients treated during the game. However, a news release from the University of Kansas Health System acknowledged the continued influx of patients seeking treatment for weather-related problems at the Emergency Department. Since Tuesday, January 9, the hospital has seen a total of 59 patients requiring medical attention due to the harsh conditions. This includes cases of shortness of breath, exposure, heart attack from exertion, motor vehicle accidents, and injuries from slipping and falling on ice. The severity of these cases necessitated the admission of eight patients to the hospital, while nine individuals were treated for frostbite at the Burnett Burn Center. The persistence of weather-related medical emergencies underscores the ongoing impact of the extreme cold on public health.

Historical Context and Impact

The frigid conditions experienced during the Chiefs’ Super Wild Card playoff win are reminiscent of the coldest NFL game on record, known as the 'Ice Bowl.' This historic game took place in December 1967 in Wisconsin, where the Green Bay Packers triumphed over the Dallas Cowboys amidst -13 Fahrenheit air temperature and a -48 wind chill. The comparison between these two chilling events serves as a testament to the rare and extreme nature of the recent weather conditions in Kansas City. The enduring impact of such extreme cold is evident in the significant rise in weather-related medical cases, with hospitals and medical facilities grappling with the influx of patients seeking treatment for cold-related ailments.