Latest news with #frostbite
Gizmodo
04-07-2025
- Health
- Gizmodo
A 23-Year-Old Man Got Frostbite From Using Whippets
Here's another reason to stay away from whippets, just in case you needed one. Doctors this week have reported a strange case of frostbite via nitrous oxide. Doctors at the University of Virginia described the chilling injury in a paper published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. The victim, a 23-year-old man, developed frostbite in his mouth and throat immediately after inhaling a nitrous oxide canister. Fortunately, the man was given supportive treatment and recovered no worse for wear. Inhaling Whippits Left a Man Unable to Walk Nitrous oxide gas has all sorts of legitimate applications, from acting as a medical sedative to helping create whipped cream. But it's also used recreationally to induce euphoric, if short-lasting, effects. Recreational users typically get their nitrous oxide from whipped cream canisters, which gave rise to the drug's common nickname of 'whippets' (you might also know it as 'whippits' or 'laughing gas'). Common side effects of whippets include dizziness, dissociation, and a momentary loss of motor control. But the compressed gas released from these canisters is also plenty cold, reaching temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit. And that cold is certainly enough to trigger frostbite—the damage caused by ice crystals forming in our skin and tissues—in body parts inadvertently exposed to the gas while using whippets. According to the report, the man sought medical care after enduring two straight days of painful swallowing and hoarseness in his throat. A physical examination revealed swollen white blotches along the roof of his mouth, uvula, and throat, a potential sign of frostbitten tissue (a gnarly close-up of the frostbite can be seen here). He admitted to the doctors that his symptoms began right after he had inhaled nitrous oxide from a handheld canister. 'Had he not been forthcoming with that information, that probably wouldn't have been something that crossed my mind,' report co-author Michael Patrizio, associate director of acute care at UVA, told NBC News. 'I would have thought a viral infection—mono, strep throat—or an STI in the throat.' A Little Laughing Gas Can Help Treat Depression, Small Study Finds While whippet-induced frostbite isn't unprecedented, this case was a bit more unusual. Most injuries typically involve frostbite to people's thighs or hands. In some cases, they have been so severe that they required skin grafts and surgery to treat. But thankfully, the man in this case only needed over-the-counter painkillers and steroid paste to ease his symptoms until his mouth healed on its own. Here's hoping the painful experience taught the man an important lesson. Long-term recreational use of nitrous oxide is known to deplete the body of vitamin B12, which can lead to serious complications like paralysis and permanent neurological damage.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A chilling risk of recreational nitrous oxide use: Frostbite
Recreational use of nitrous oxide — often referred to as whippets or laughing gas — left a 23-year-old with frostbite in his mouth and throat, according to a report of the man's case published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. Recreational nitrous oxide use has been on the rise in recent years: Data from America's Poison Centers shows a nearly 60% increase in reports of intentional exposure to the drug from 2023 to 2024. The Food and Drug Administration has issued several warnings advising people against inhaling nitrous oxide products, which are often marketed to be used to make whipped cream. Frostbite occurs when ice crystals form in the skin and deeper tissues, damaging cells and disrupting blood flow. Dr. Michael Patrizio, associate director of acute care at the University of Virginia, said getting frostbite in the mouth and throat from inhaling nitrous oxide is rare, but not unheard of. The patient told Patrizio that his painful swallowing and hoarseness started immediately after he inhaled nitrous oxide directly from a canister two days prior. White blotches — the frostbitten tissue — swelled on the roof of his mouth, uvula and throat. 'Had he not been forthcoming with that information, that probably wouldn't have been something that crossed my mind,' said Patrizio, who saw the man at the campus's outpatient clinic and was a co-author of the case report. 'I would have thought a viral infection — mono, strep throat — or an STI in the throat.' When a compressed gas expands, it can cool to as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit — this is why compressed gas is used to cool refrigerators. Canisters of compressed nitrous oxide work in the same way. When the gas is released, it cools, sometimes drastically. 'This has the potential to cause frostbite,' Dr. Cara Borelli, an addiction medicine physician at Yale University, said in an email. Borelli wasn't involved with the patient's case. Surgeons use compressed nitrous oxide to perform ablations, a procedure that uses extreme cold or heat to remove tissue. 'If you have someone using drugs in an uncontrolled setting, you may certainly be doing damage to tissue that you don't want to be doing damage to,' said Dr. Jeffrey Ruwe, an emergency medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic who wasn't involved with the man's case. Overall, cases of frostbite from nitrous oxide canisters are rare, though they are likely underreported, Patrizio said. More commonly than in the mouth and throat, illicit nitrous oxide use leads to frostbite burns on the thighs and hands, since people hold chilled canisters and fill balloons with the gas, which allows the gas to warm before people inhale it. Frostbite can be serious — at least several people have required skin grafts and surgery due to nitrous oxide burns on their legs and hands — however 'that's not really the risk people think of,' Patrizio said. The more common risks of recreational nitrous oxide use include a ruptured lung, from inhaling the gas too deeply, and a lack of oxygen in the brain, he said. It can also cause vitamin deficiencies that can lead to potentially fatal neurological problems. 'Nitrous oxide inactivates vitamin B12, meaning that the body's B12 does not function as it is supposed to,' Borelli said. The body uses vitamin B12 to synthesize myelin, a substance made from fats and proteins that surrounds and insulates nerves. If this sheath breaks down, it can cause serious neurological issues. After chronic use, nitrous oxide can cause nervous system and brain changes that can progress from weakness and unsteadiness to paralysis. 'That's very real,' Ruwe said. Patrizio told his frostbitten patient to use over-the-counter pain medication, lidocaine and a steroid paste to reduce inflammation and swelling while his frostbite healed. Ruwe said this may not be the case for everyone. 'Frostbite is very, very rare, but if inhaled directly from a higher-pressure tank, or if it causes airway swelling, it could be time-sensitive and potentially deadly,' he said. This article was originally published on
News.com.au
28-05-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Paraglider survived being sucked 8.5km into the sky in rare ‘cloud suction'
A shocking video shows the terrifying moment a paraglider was sucked 8.5km into the sky and endured bone-chilling conditions among the clouds. He reportedly became trapped in a rare 'cloud suction' that pulled him more than 8.5km into the air during a flight over China. The paraglider, who miraculously survived the ordeal on Saturday, caught the nerve-shredding moments on camera. His jaw-dropping footage has now gone viral on social media. He took off for his flight from an altitude of around 3,000 metres over the Qilian Mountains according to local media reports. But the paraglider quickly malfunctioned and became uncontrollable, as he was dragged up thousands on feet into the clouds. He was sucked to the sort of heights at which passenger aeroplanes might cruise. The footage lays bare the icy conditions he had to endure, suffering from extensive frostbite at the terrifying altitude. He can be seen clinging onto his parachute for dear life in the frightening conditions. Visibility is initially poor at the start of the clip as the paraglider is sucked to high altitudes over the mountains. But at the peak of the trip, he can be seen dangling over the clouds – visibly freezing cold and covered in frost. He was not wearing an oxygen mask, fully exposing him to the hostile elements. However, the man miraculously remained conscious throughout the ordeal and successfully brought his parachute to a safe landing. He later recalled experiencing hypoxia and having his hands exposed to the blistering cold above the clouds, local media reported. 'I just kept communicating over the radio the entire time,' he said. An experienced paraglider, surnamed Ou, told local media that few people would survive being pulled to such high altitudes. 'This is truly miraculous,' Ou said. 'His mental resilience was extraordinary.' Ou added that paragliders will typically come prepared for such flights with cold weather gear, as it would already be extremely cold at the takeoff altitude. But at 8,000 metres, temperatures can drop to as low as -40, and oxygen supplies would be critically low, Jiupai News reported. The incident is now being investigated by regulatory authorities. A source told Jiupai News that he had failed to file the necessary flight plan – including getting airspace clearance for the launch site. Chinese national aviation sports regulations state that aerial activities need prior airspace approval from air traffic control. Paragliding activities have to be carried out according to a prearranged plan, and trips are prohibited under adverse weather conditions. Changing flight plans without authorisation is also not allowed. Penalties for those found in breach of the rules range from warning and fines to criminal charges, local media reports.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Terrifying moment vortex drags frozen paraglider into the sky and suspends him more than 28,000ft in the air in -40C conditions
A frozen paraglider was left suspended over 28,000ft in the air in -40C conditions after a vortex dragged him into the sky. Terrifying footage captured the man becoming trapped in a rare 'cloud suction' during a flight over China on Saturday. The paraglider, who miraculously survived the chilling ordeal, managed to catch a clip moment of the incident on camera which has now made its rounds on social media. The unnamed man took off for his flight from an altitude of around 9,800ft over the Qilian Mountains, according to local media reports. But in a horror twist, the paraglider quickly lost control of his equipment and was yanked thousands of feet into the icy air - almost the height at which passenger aeroplanes may cruise. The frightening footage reveals the severity of the conditions the paraglider had to endure. He was left with extensive frostbite following the ordeal. In the clip, the man can be seen clinging onto his parachute as he soars through the air. Visibility is poor as he is rapidly sucked to high altitudes over the snow-topped mountains. Terrifying footage captured the paraglider becoming trapped in a rare 'cloud suction' during a flight over China on Saturday But at one point, the paraglider can be seen dangling above the clouds - visibly frozen with his hair, beard, and protective gear covered in frost. He was not wearing an oxygen mask which left him fully exposed to the dangerous elements. However, the man miraculously remained conscious throughout the ordeal and managed to successfully land his parachute safely. Following the incident, he recalled experiencing hypoxia and having his hands exposed to the freezing cold temperatures above the clouds, according to local reports. 'I just kept communicating over the radio the entire time,' he said. An experienced paraglider, surnamed Ou, told local media that very few people could have survived being dragged into such high altitudes. 'This is truly miraculous,' Ou said. 'His mental resilience was extraordinary.' Ou added that paragliders will typically come prepared for such flights with cold weather gear, as it would already be extremely cold at the take-off altitude. But at 8,000 metres, temperatures can drop to as low as -40C, and oxygen supplies would be critically low, Jiupai News reported. The incident is now being investigated by local authorities. A source told Jiupai News that he had failed to file the necessary flight plan - including getting airspace clearance for the launch site. Chinese national aviation sports regulations state that aerial activities need prior airspace approval from air traffic control. Paragliding activities have to be carried out according to a pre-arranged plan, and trips are prohibited under adverse weather conditions. Changing flight plans without authorisation is also not allowed. Penalties for those found in breach of the rules range from warning and fines to criminal charges, local media reports.
The Sun
27-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Shock vid shows half-frozen paraglider who was sucked 5 MILES into sky by vortex & left shivering in -40C conditions
A SHOCKING video shows the terrifying moment a paraglider was sucked five miles into the sky and endured bone-chilling conditions among the clouds. He reportedly became trapped in a rare "cloud suction" that pulled him more than 28,000ft into the air during a flight over China . 4 4 4 The paraglider, who miraculously survived the ordeal on Saturday, caught the nerve-shredding moments on camera. His jaw-dropping footage has now gone viral on social media. He took off for his flight from an altitude of around 3,000 metres (9,842.52ft) over the Qilian Mountains according to local media reports. But the paraglider quickly malfunctioned and became uncontrollable, dragging up thousands feet more up into the clouds. He was sucked to the sort of heights at which passenger aeroplanes might cruise. The footage lays bare the icy conditions he had to endure, suffering from extensive frostbite at the terrifying altitude. He can be seen clinging onto his parachute for dear life in the frightening conditions. Visibility is initially poor at the start of the clip as the paraglider is sucked to high altitudes over the mountains. But at the peak of the trip, he can be seen dangling over the clouds - visibly freezing cold and covered in frost. He was not wearing an oxygen mask, fully exposing him to the hostile elements. Inside dystopian Chinese megacity of 32 million where workers 'don't see sunlight' & Big Brother is always watching However, the man miraculously remained conscious throughout the ordeal and successfully brought his parachute to a safe landing. He would later recall experiencing hypoxia and having his hands exposed to the blistering cold above the clouds, local media has reported. "I just kept communicating over the radio the entire time," he said. An experienced paraglider surnamed Ou told local media that few people would survive being pulled to such high altitudes. "This is truly miraculous," Ou said. "His mental resilience was extraordinary." Ou added that paragliders will typically come prepared for such flights with cold weather gear, as it would already be extremely cold at the take-off altitude. But at 8,000 metres, temperatures can drop to as low as -40, and oxygen supplies would be critically low, Jiupai News has reported. Why is China now investigating him? THE paraglider may have miraculously survived the terrifying ordeal, but he now faces an investigation from the authorities. It is understood that he holds a valid paragliding licence, but Jiupai News reports that failed to file the requisite flight plan for this trip. The local aviation sports regulations say that such activities need approval from air traffic controllers - and that paragliders cannot alter their planned routes without authorisation. Paragliding activities are also prohibited under adverse weather conditions. Anyone found to have breached the rules faces sanctions that can range from warning and fines to criminal charges. The incident is now being investigated by regulatory authorities. A source told Jiupai News that he had failed to file the necessary flight plan - including getting airspace clearance for the launch site. Chinese national aviation sports regulations state that aerial activities need prior airspace approval from air traffic control. Paragliding activities have to be carried out according to a pre-arranged plan, and trips are prohibited under adverse weather conditions. Changing flight plans without authorisation is also not allowed. Penalties for those found in breach of the rules range from warning and fines to criminal charges, local media reports.
