Frostbite Injuries in Chicago's Unsheltered Population.

People experiencing unsheltered homelessness (PEUH) have an increased risk of frostbite injury, which can be a dangerous and debilitating condition. Our study aims to determine the prevalence, incidence, and impact of frostbite in the unsheltered population in Chicago and nearby suburbs. We administered a survey at a Chicago Transit Authority metro station in suburban Cook County to assess the frequency of frostbite injury and the circumstances surrounding frostbite in this community. Our results demonstrated that frostbite is both common (incidence rate (IR) =1271.67 cases of frostbite per 100,000 life-years (LY)) and highly morbid (IR=46.24 amputations per 100,000 LY) in PEUH in Chicago. We hope to include more street medicine partners to raise awareness about the impact of frostbite injury in the unsheltered population and advocate for improved emergency preparedness plans during the cold winter season.