Two victims of restaurant fire recount the moment they escaped the fire

Regarding the health of the two victims in the fire at the restaurant on Tran Hung Dao Street (Cau Ong Lanh Ward, old District 1) on December 6, Gia Dinh People's Hospital said that both victims are currently stable and are being closely monitored at the Intensive Care and Anti-Poison Department.

Two victims who escaped the fire at the restaurant (Cau Ong Lanh ward) are being treated at the hospital: Ms. Tran Thi Thuy T. (born in 2004) and Ms. Tran Thi Ngoc K. (born in 2007).

Both victims are currently stable and are being closely monitored at the Intensive Care and Anti-Poison Department. Photo: Hospital

Dr. Huynh Quang Dai, Head of the Intensive Care and Anti-Poison Department, said that after a bronchoscopy, doctors discovered that Ms. Tran Thi Thuy T. had lung damage due to inhaling smoke with a lot of soot in her airways, along with second-degree burns to the respiratory mucosa. Ms. T. also had a broken shoulder bone and 4-5 broken ribs.

The patient is currently receiving respiratory support with high-flow oxygen therapy, bronchodilator nebulizers and expectorants, and is being monitored for the risk of progressive respiratory failure and pneumothorax. Orthopedic and thoracic surgeons are also closely monitoring the chest and shoulder injuries.

As for Ms. Tran Thi Ngoc K., the patient suffered less lung damage, along with first-degree burns to the airway. The patient was given oxygen and a bronchodilator nebulizer. Because the damaged airway can easily lead to secondary infection, the patient was monitored and treated with antibiotics for a few days. If progress is good, Ms. K. can be discharged early.

Talking about the time of her escape, Ms. T. said that at around 4 a.m., a person sleeping in the same room went to the bathroom and discovered the fire, so she shouted. Everyone ran to the window, but the smoke and heat were so thick that they could not breathe, so they were forced to jump. "I put my hands up to support myself when I landed, so my head was not injured. Because my shoulder bone and 4-5 ribs were broken, I was in a lot of pain," Ms. T. said.

Ms. K. shared: “Now I feel better, less panicked. At that time, we were sleeping, heard the cry for help, panicked, ran to the window and jumped down. Then we were taken to the emergency room.”

Dr. Huynh Quang Dai said that respiratory burns, CO and HCN poisoning are very common conditions in fires. Hot gas can burn the upper airway, leading to swelling and obstruction; soot sticks to the trachea and bronchi, causing lung damage.

Dr. Huynh Quang Dai recommends that in case of fire or explosion, the most important thing is to stay calm and find a way out. Smoke and soot often rise, so it is necessary to protect the airway with a wet towel covering the nose and mouth, and crawl or crouch low to move out.

If trapped in a room, open the windows to let the smoke escape, use wet towels to seal the cracks to prevent smoke from entering; absolutely do not jump from high places without a mattress or safety equipment below. If burned, soak the affected area in clean water and quickly call an ambulance or fire department.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/y-te/hai-nan-nhan-trong-vu-chay-quan-an-ke-lai-thoi-diem-thoat-khoi-dam-chay-20251206125849144.htm