Mumbai, August 24: An emergency meeting was convened at KEM Hospital in Mumbai following the tragic deaths of three newborns in the NICU ward of a women’s district hospital in Amravati, where a fire broke out. Dr. Tushar Palwe, Dean of KEM Hospital, addressed safety measures in light of the incident.
Dr. Palwe stated, “Reports indicate that an explosion occurred in a ventilator. After the explosion, gas was released, igniting a fire throughout the NICU and leading to the deaths of three innocent infants. I believe that the ventilator contains a compressor, which can sometimes explode due to overheating, causing a fire.”
He explained, “The presence of an oxygen line in the NICU can accelerate the spread of fire. The oxygen supply is typically high in the NICU, which can exacerbate the situation. If there is no ventilation in the NICU, smoke cannot escape. The windows are usually closed.”
Dr. Palwe emphasized, “The three fatalities likely resulted from asphyxiation rather than burns. The gases produced, including carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, can be lethal, especially for vulnerable newborns. While many infants were saved, initial reports suggest that a lack of ventilation may have contributed to the tragic deaths.”
Regarding safety measures at KEM Hospital, Dr. Palwe noted, “We have completed our fire safety protocols. Our NICU is not combined; we have constructed 16 separate cabins, each housing one or two infants. This design prevents the spread of fire from one cabin to another.”
He concluded that this incident highlights the critical need for regular maintenance of electrical equipment and continuously operating machines like ventilators in the NICU.
Dr. Palwe reiterated that preliminary reports suggest inadequate airflow management at the Amravati hospital, which likely led to the asphyxiation of the newborns.
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