Pedicure Gives Man 2nd Degree Burns
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MCKINNEY (CBSDFW.COM) - Christopher Saulsberry admits he's not a pedicure person.
"No, not at all," laughs Saulsberry.
His wife suggested they get pedicures in October of 2014 at Hollywood Nails and Spa in McKinney on El Dorado Parkway.
"She said 'let's get a pedicure, it'll make yourself feel better. You have work on Monday'," said Saulsberry.
He said it was a small treat during a tough year.
"My mom was diagnosed with cancer in April and she was gone in July. We had just gotten back to Dallas from the funeral and everything," said Saulsberry.
Saulsberry and his wife sat next to each other at the salon.
"My wife looks over and said, 'what's going on with your feet?' My feet are blistering, bubbling up," said Saulsberry.
Saulsberry said his feet were in the water for a few minutes.
"I couldn't put my socks and shoes on," said Saulsberry.
He said they wrapped his feet in towels and drove to urgent care.
"The nurse had to get me a wheelchair and wheel me to the back. The doctor said, 'you need a burn specialist,'" said Saulsberry.
He had second degree burns on his feet from the hot water, spent eight days in the hospital and had to have a home health care nurse for six months.
"I'm thinking, do we have to cut a toe off, or amputate," said Saulsberry.
Saulsberry, a diabetic, said he couldn't tell how hot the water was right away. "I have neuropathy in my feet so my sensation is dulled."
Tom Carse, Saulsberry's attorney, filed a lawsuit against the salon for gross negligence.
Carse hired an engineer to inspect the water heater at Hollywood Nails and found the temperature set for both water heaters near 140 degrees.
According to the Shriner's institute, it takes less than five seconds to get a serious burn in water that hot.
"Turn the temperature down on the water heaters," said Carse.
Carse also filed a complaint with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation on behalf of Saulsberry.
"Just a little bit of due diligence, you could protect so many people," said Saulsberry.
The state is still investigating what happened at the salon. Hollywood Nails and Spa on Eldorado parkway had no other violations on record with the state.
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