Beijing, June 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 27, at Formosa Fun Coast in New Taipei City, Taiwan, China, a dust explosion occurred during the "Color Play Asia – Color Party" event, resulting in 519 people suffering severe injuries, including international students from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Singapore who were studying in Taiwan. International SOS has been tasked with medical evacuation and, after noon on the 29th, began transporting the injured patients back to their home countries via medical charter flights, ensuring they arrive directly at receiving hospitals.
After learning of the accident, the International SOS Taipei Assistance Center immediately initiated coordination with the International SOS teams in Beijing, Hong Kong, and Singapore, and promptly established contact with local receiving hospitals and attending physicians in Taiwan. They worked together to assess the condition of the injured, evaluate the risks and feasibility of medical evacuation, develop specific evacuation plans, and assist families with follow-up matters.
Dr. Wan-lin Chen, Medical Director of the International SOS Taipei Office, explained, “The three patients expected to be evacuated have moderate to severe burns. Their common conditions include serious burns on the limbs, varying degrees of respiratory tract burns, and wound pain. Therefore, International SOS has specially arranged emergency evacuation via a medical flight, with critical care doctors and nurses accompanying the patients throughout to monitor and escort them. The medical plane is equipped with standard medical kits and vital signs monitors, and special emphasis has been placed on wound dressing supplies and pain relief medications.”
Dr. Chen emphasized, “For patients with such severe burns, the key points that must be managed during medical evacuation are:”“First, preventing wound infection.”“The skin is the body’s largest vital organ. Once severely burned, the skin not only loses its protective function but also releases harmful chemicals, while necrotic tissue may become a breeding ground for bacteria. To treat wound bacterial infections, appropriate antibiotic medications must be administered to the patient.”“Second, pain management.”“During dressing changes or evacuation, patients may experience significant pain. Administering appropriate pain relief medication is a crucial aspect of treatment.”“Furthermore, it is essential to monitor the patient’s fluid loss.”“Once the skin’s protective layer is compromised, the body can lose large amounts of fluid. It is vital to ensure that the patient is adequately hydrated and receives sufficient electrolytes to prevent shock, and a urinary catheter should be placed to monitor fluid balance.”
The injured patients expected to be evacuated to China will arrive in Shanghai tonight (June 29) under the escort of International SOS medical staff and will be transferred to the renowned Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, which specializes in burn treatment, for further care. The International SOS China service team also plans to send personnel to assist with subsequent arrangements.
Mr. Yi Zhang, Executive Director of International SOS North Asia, mentioned, “To accomplish this mission spanning four regions across the Taiwan Strait, International SOS mobilized assistance medical teams in Taipei, Beijing, Hong Kong, and Singapore to jointly support the injured patients. With the guidance and coordination of relevant authorities including the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), as well as the active collaboration of attending and receiving hospitals in the four regions, the evacuation plan was formulated, the medical team assembled, and arrangements for air evacuation, ground ambulance transfer, and receiving hospitals were coordinated — all within a very short time. This medical evacuation has been successfully arranged. We will do our utmost at International SOS to ensure the safe and smooth return of the injured patients home.”