MillenniumPost
Delhi

Hospitals gear up to tackle burn-related cases on Diwali

New Delhi: Major hospitals under the central and Delhi government like Safdarjung, Ram Manohar Lohia (RML), Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB), Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU), Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC) and Lok Nayak hospitals will provide treatment for burns during Diwali, officials said. "Around 692 patients were reported with the severe burn injuries across the city in the last year," said an official, adding that, the Lok Nayak Hospital has also been made the nodal hospital by the Delhi Health Department to coordinate between the other centres for referrals.

Officials at Safdarjung Hospital, which has the largest burns unit in the country and an ICU for the same, said that it usually receives the most cases during Diwali. Severe burns will also be referred here, officials said.

"Since Tuesday, additional doctors will be appointed at the burn ward for round the clock for next four days," said a senior official from Safdarjung Hospital. Last year, around 110 sever burn patients were reported at. Safdarjung. "Data from Safdarjung hospital, in the last 10 years, also shows that 65 percent of burn cases were caused by anars (sparkler fountains). Cracker bombs were found to be the second most common reason, causing 13 percent of cases," said an official.

"Since we saw a jump in the number and intensity of burns last year around Diwali, we are trying to coordinate between identified hospitals this time. This will ensure that all patients receive attention at the earliest. Serious cases will also be referred to higher centres for treatment," an official said.

Lok Nayak Hospital has circulated a list of hospitals in different parts of the city that will treat burns, officials said. "Doctors will be posted round the clock, 24-48 hours before Diwali. They will continue to be on duty till two days after the festival, as the past few years have shown that injury cases keep coming even after Diwali," the official said. Moreover, senior doctors will also be put on call services in case of extreme emergency. Lok Nayak hospital received 10 cases as compared to 71 in 2016. "Of the 10 patients, we had to admit only four, who had suffered more than 10 percent burns. Even then, the burns were concentrated on the limbs.

"Emergency care is always ready to provide the critical care to the burn patients and our burn unit is equipped to handle the severe complication," said Dr Karan Madan, spokesperson, AIIMS.

Meanwhile, additional arrangements have also been made at the RP centre to be taken care for eye related issue due to the burn. Last year, around 68 severe cases were reported at RP Centre at AIIMS.

Guru Teg Bahadur hospital (which caters to the entire trans-Yamuna region) had 40 cases of burns injury in 2017 as compared to 175 in 2016. At Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, as many as 45 patients came in with burns injury in 2017 as compared to 60 in 2016. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital received 29 patients with burns injury in 2017 as compared to 98 in 2016.

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