The Dark Tales of The Polar Vortex

Last week the Midwest faced a dangerously cold weather. Schools, business and government office shutdown due to extreme weather. Unfortunately, many people suffered from the freezing temperatures.

According to Across The Illinois Patch, “In Illinois alone, hospitals reported more than 220 cases of frostbite and hypothermia since Tuesday, when the polar vortex moved in and overnight temperatures plunged to minus 30 or lower — with wind chills of minus 50 or worse in some areas.” If you refer to last week's post, I wrote about the weather that was approaching last week. The National Weather Service stated the weather could be life threatening.

BBC News stated that at least 21 people died during the Polar Vortex. Some people were found dead that were a walk away from their home. An 18-year-old student was found unresponsive from a short walk from his dorm on Wednesday and later died in hospital. Many people were taken to the hospital due to frost bite. In a CNN report, a hospital in Chicago has already treated 50 patients for frostbite, and some may end up losing a limb. Most of the patients that were hospitalized were homeless or workers that work outside. One worker that passed away was a FedEx worker from East Moline, Illinois. According to WQAD, a Moline television station stated in a news story said a 69-year-old man's body was found frozen between two semi tractors by another FedEx employee at around 9:30 a.m.

The Polar Vortex made records across the Midwest. Chicago passed the record for a low of 31 degrees for January. USF Nursing Alumni, Lia Price stated that the hospital she works at was busy all day and she stayed to help patients in need.