Christmas Blaze Leaves 5 Dead and 2 with Serious Burn Injuries

On early Christmas morning, a fire blaze happened at a house in Stanford, Connecticut which left 5 family members killed and 2 more with serious burn injuries.

It was supposed to be a happy family reunion on Christmas day. Grandpa and grandma visited their daughter who has three kids to spend the holidays together. Bonding together with their three granddaughters might be one of the most exciting days for the old couple. But then it all turned it to be a tragic one.

The fire which erupted at around 5 AM at the Shippan Point neighborhood reached the third alarm. Both the grandfather and grandmother who just visited the family for Christmas died from the fire together with their three grandchildren. The three children who died were 7-year-old twins and a one-year-old, whom are all girls. The children’s mother, Madonna Badger, and one male acquaintance survived the incident. Both sustained serious burn injuries but were expected to have a full recovery soon.

The Reuters report said that the firefighters attempted to rescue the trapped victims but to no avail. Rescuers were pushed back by the towering fire and heat.

At present, the cause of the fire is not yet determined and according to fire investigators, it would take several days up to a week before finally concluding the fire’s main source.

It is the worst Christmas Day the family had. Maybe it would be more acceptable if the whole family only sustained burn injury, but unfortunately, five of the family members were killed leaving Badger alone. Definitely, Christmas wouldn’t be merry for Badger this time.

Share |

Overnight Fire in Brownsville Left Man with Serious Burn Injury

As of present, the main cause of an overnight fire in Brownsville is still undetermined.
According to witnesses, there was a blaze before the fire spread. A neighbor came to help and called the firefighters.

Firemen said that the man sustained third degree burns to half of his body and is now being treated at San Antonio burn center, while the man’s wife escaped the fire without having any serious personal injury. Aside from them, several cats and dogs living in the house were trapped in the fire also.

The firefighters are still conducting an investigation about the main cause of the blaze. The home had no running water and electricity since the family who owned the house uses generators for powering the house. Therefore the firemen found it difficult to figure out the source of fire.

About three quarters of patients with serious burn injury die because of severe infection. The most common complication for a burn injury is the bacterial infection. Therefore, a necessary transfer from the emergency physician to a special department for reconstructive surgery should be conducted by the authorities to prevent infection.

Apart from the first aid treatment, patients should be provided with proper wound care, therapies and other necessary psychiatric treatment in a special follow up ward.

Though the man was able to survive the fire blaze, it’s still uncertain if he would be able to survive from the serious burn injuries he sustained. Wounds might be simple but the bacteria causing the infections may cause death. He should be extra careful. Following the proper authorities’ campaign against infection is a must.

Share |

Younger Children are more Prone to Burn Injury than Older Ones

In recent studies, the large majority of children who were taken to hospitals with injuries are below 5 years old and most of them are burn injury.

According to researches, the most common type of injury in pediatrics and emergency departments worldwide is burn injuries and other heat – related cases. One out of ten injuries around the world are as a result from burns and other related injuries.

In further studies, all burn admissions involving minor children were investigated for over a year, and during that period, 300 burn injuries has been recorded. It was found out on the same study that boys are most likely to suffer from such type of injuries than girls. It was also found out that out of 10, 8 children at the age of 5 mostly affected by burn injuries. The average age of burn injury victims is 3 ½ years old.

During the 1 - year study period, the most rate of hospital attendance for burn injuries was during the first six months as compared to the second six months. June has the most numbers of injury cases recorded.

According also to the conducted research, the most common cause of burn injuries to children are hot liquids particularly like hot water coffee, tea and boiling water from kettle or pots. Next is hot solid like hobs, stoves and other cooking devices and lastly is from radiations such as sunburns and etc.

The most numbers of burn injury accidents occurs during early afternoon and at the evening time when children are less under supervised by guardians.

Upper limbs like hands, wrists and arms, and the upper trunk such as chest and face are the most parts of the children’s body that are most possibly to be affected.

Generally, younger children are more likely to suffer burn injuries at home while older children are more likely to obtain such injuries outside home.

It was also noted on the research that children from poorer environment and more defenseless children like those with disability were more exposed to burn injuries.

Parents should be well informed about these factors to avoid not only burn injury but as well as other personal injury cases from rapidly increasing in numbers.

Whatever it is, whether younger or older children, parents should be more diligent in taking care of their children. Preventive measure should be taken to avoid children from being seriously injured since children can hardly endure too much pain in their young body.

Share |