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Colorado KRDO reporter Eric Fink hospitalized with frostbite after freezing broadcast

By Staff Writer 08/01/2015 11:13:00

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Eric Fink, 27, needed to remove his gloves to fix equipment while filming alone in Falcon, Colorado on Saturday night
At the time, temperatures plunged to 11F (-11.7C)
He was treated at hospital for frostbite to his fingers and is recovering
The news station was criticized for failing to give proper cold weather training to its staff but wound not comment on the incident

By Lydia Warren For Dailymail.com

Published: 12:34 EST, 8 January 2015 | Updated: 13:13 EST, 8 January 2015

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A TV reporter in Colorado has been hospitalized with frostbite to his fingers after trying to film a late-night live shot during freezing temperatures.

Eric Fink, a reporter for KRDO in Colorado Springs, was wearing cold-weather clothing while preparing to film a live shot on his own on Saturday night but ran into difficulties with his equipment.

He told his producers that he needed to remove his gloves in order to connect his camera to the backpack, but that he was worried about taking them off in freezing winds, Mediabistro reported.

But he removed them - as temperatures plunged to 11F (-11.7C) with a wind chill of 3F (-16C).

Hospitalized: Eric Fink, a reporter for KRDO in Colorado Springs, is pictured receiving treatment in hospital after he suffered frostbite while reporting in freezing temperatures on Saturday night

The station would not comment on whether Fink was reporting on the weather at the time or on a different local story.

Another KRDO reporter tweeted a photograph showing Fink receiving treatment for several frostbitten fingers on Sunday.

'How cold is it? Reporter @E_FINKSTER has frostbite on both hands after working in Falcon,' reported Jonathan Petramala tweeted.

On Wednesday, Fink, 27, took to his own Twitter feed to give followers an update.

'Recovering from frostbite,' he wrote. 'I am overwhelmed by the prayers and support. Tweeting a heartfelt thank you to everybody.'

Recovering: Fink, pictured, needed to take off his gloves in sub-freezing temperatures to fix his equipment

On the mend: On Wednesday, he told his Twitter followers that he was on the road to recovery

Ahead of the incident, KRDO had been warning viewers to bundle up against the sub-zero temperatures, warning them of the risks of frostbite.

Mediabistro reported that the station's journalists had criticized KRDO for a lack of weather safety training.

'No one was surprised that something bad was going to happen during spot news or weather, we'd just hoped it wouldn't lead to someone potentially losing fingers as a result,' an insider told the site.

Staff from KRDO declined to comment on the incident.

Temperatures plunged in Colorado on Saturday during a cold front that lumbered across the U.S., and the temperature in Colorado Springs dropped from 30F to 20F in just one hour that afternoon.

Freezing: The channel has been warning viewers about the freezing temperatures across Colorado Springs. It was 11F (-11.7C) with wind chills when Fink tried to film his shot on Saturday night

KEEPING OUT THE CHILL: HOW TO AVOID GETTING FROSTBITE

Frostbite happens when skin is exposed to freezing temperatures – typically any temperature below 31ºF. It can affect any part of your body, but hands, feet, ears, nose and lips, are most likely to be affected. To avoid frostbite:

Dress in layers. Even if your winter coat is warm, it's not going to be as effective as an outfit composed of more than one layer
Wear a synthetic fabric close to the skin as the bottom layer as it stop your skin staying damp
Wear a warm fabric over the synthetic layer. Wool is best as cotton is does not provide good insulation
Cover your head, ears, nose and hands - these do not benefit from the layers. Mittens are better then gloves as they keep your hands warmer and make sure you tuck the top of them over your sleeves to seal the cold out
Wear warm footwear. If there is a chance your feet could get wear make sure you wear waterproof shoes
If you are travelling during cold weather, plan for emergencies. Drivers should have a blanket and spare clothes

The very young and very old are most at risk of frostbite as their bodies are less able to regulate body temperature. Smokers and diabetics are also at risk.

During cold weather alcohol can be a factor in frost bite - it causes you to lose heat at a faster rate.

The symptoms of frostbite usually begin with the affected parts feeling cold and painful. If exposure to the cold continues, you may feel pins and needles.

If the tingling in the fingers and toes doesn't stop, or there are at least 30 minutes of symptoms and no feeling in the extremities, you should seek medical attention.