Switzerland’s burn centres overwhelmed with fire victims

GENEVA – The number of people who suffered severe burns in the bar fire in the Swiss resort town of Crans-Montana
far exceeds the capacity of Switzerland’s burn units in Zurich and Lausanne and its national disaster centre in the capital, an emergency care official in Geneva said on Jan 1.

About 50 people are believed to have been badly burned, according to Dr Robert Larribau, the head of emergency care at Geneva’s University Hospital, who was briefed by national authorities.

Officials in the capital, Bern, were coordinating with the EU to find hospitals in neighbouring countries that are able to take some of the victims, Dr Larribau said. Transfers of patients to hospitals in Germany, Italy and France were expected to start on Jan 1 and Jan 2, he said.

The hospital closest to the fire, in Sion, Switzerland, was initially overwhelmed by the rush of victims, Dr Larribau said. It was reported to have taken in around 60 people.

Twenty-two others were sent to Lausanne, more than double the capacity of its burn centre, Dr Larribau said. An additional 16 patients were transferred to Zurich University Hospital, and eight were sent to a hospital in Bern.

Four people, between the ages of 15 and around 25, were taken to Geneva University Hospital. Two were in intensive care and required transfer as soon as possible for specialised treatment, Dr Larribau said.

Three people suffering fractures and other non-burn injuries from an explosion that occurred at the bar as the fire raged made their own way to another Geneva hospital, he said. NYTIMES