Surge In Frostbite Cases Amid Subzero Blast

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP/WCCO) -- Minnesota's deep freeze has caused a surge of cold-related cases at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

Spokeswoman Kristin Kauffmann says the Regions emergency room had seen 14 people for frostbite and eight for hypothermia by 6 p.m. Monday, and another five people went directly to the burn center, which treats serious frostbite cases.

Kauffmann says Regions hasn't seen as many people with weather-related injuries as one might expect, given the severe cold. But she says the cases they're seeing are more serious than usual. She says one Regions physician says he's seen the most cases of severe frostbite that he can recall in a single day.

Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis hasn't seen as much frostbite. Spokeswoman Christine Hill says the emergency room handled only a couple cases overnight.

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