Warning Issued by Woman Following Life-Altering Injuries from Hair Drying Mishap

The Impact of a Hair Drying Mishap on a Woman’s Life

A woman’s life took a drastic turn following an unforeseen incident while drying her hair.

Mary Wilson, a resident of James Island, experienced a life-altering event on February 7, 2024, while attending to her hair in the bathroom. Unexpectedly, she lost consciousness during the process.

Upon being discovered by her partner approximately 20 minutes later, Wilson was found with severe burns on her hand caused by the hairdryer, which had burnt through to the bone.

Recalling the harrowing experience, Wilson expressed, “She’s telling me, ‘Your hand, your hand.’ I look at my hand. I don’t even register that’s a part of me. It doesn’t even look recognizable.”

Attributing her fainting spell to the shock from the dryer, she elaborated, “The way I [fell] on top of the dryer, like it was under me, and I was in a weird, contorted placement and the dryer was still running.”

Subsequently, Wilson was swiftly transported to receive medical attention, where it was revealed that she had sustained severe nerve damage and third-degree burns on her left hand, necessitating the unfortunate amputation of her hand and wrist.

Adjusting to life with one hand has presented numerous challenges for Wilson, who remarked, “The biggest thing is not being able to do the simple things I want to do, or things take so much longer.”

However, amidst the difficulties, Wilson acknowledged that the incident has shifted her perspective on life, making her previous concerns seem trivial in comparison.

Reflecting on her past profession as a groomer, she expressed her yearning for the daily interactions with dogs, uncertain if she will ever return to that line of work.

In light of her experience, Wilson advocates for the implementation of safety features in appliances, such as automatic shutdown mechanisms when dangerous temperatures are detected, similar to those found in certain hair styling tools like straighteners and flat irons.

Despite the challenges she faces, Wilson maintains a positive outlook and is preparing to receive a prosthetic hand in the near future.

Acknowledging the impact of losing a hand, she emphasized, “I’m still going to live my life to the fullest. It’s just a hand. What is this, 10% of my body?”

Furthermore, Wilson emphasized that while the incident may alter her identity, it does not define her entirely.

Expressing gratitude for the unwavering support from her community, she highlighted, “It’s support that I never even knew that I had. It definitely meant a lot.”