Homeless people account for more than half of Horizon frostbite cases

More than half of frostbite cases treated by Horizon Health Network over the past two winters have involved homeless people.

There were nine cases last winter, statistics show.

Five of those, or 55 per cent, were people who identified as being unhoused or living rough, according to Dr. Patricia Bryden, clinical lead Horizon surgical services.

Two resulted in amputations, she said.

The previous year there were 15 frostbite cases. Nine of them (60 per cent) were homeless people, and two ended with amputations.

"As the most common cause of frostbite is extended exposure to cold weather, which freezes the skin and underlying tissues, members of the homeless population are often at higher risk," Bryden said in an emailed statement.

Most cases of frostbite are treatable, but it can become severe if left untreated, she said.

Amputation is "very rare and only used in the most severe cases."

Last month, a homeless Saint John man lost his left leg below the knee and half of his right foot to severe frostbite.

Jamie Langille, 43, who has lived in a tent in a wooded area uptown for about three years, said he fell asleep one night with wet feet. His feet froze, and he developed gangrene, the death of body tissue.

"Frostbite is preventable, and a few simple steps — such as dressing in layers of warm, dry clothing, avoiding prolonged exposure to cold, windy conditions and knowing the signs of frostbite as they occur — can help reduce the risk," said Bryden.

Johanne McCullough, the founder and director of Street Team SJ, which provides food and supplies to homeless people, calls the statistics "shocking, but not surprising.

"It's a shocking number. It should shock us, right? But it's also not surprising given the conditions that people are, you know, are living in day-to-day."

McCullough expects to see similar numbers this winter, but said her group is doing what it can to prevent more cases.