Burn injuries up as people huddle around fires

KATHMANDU, Jan 12: With temperatures reaching freezing point and people warming themselves at fires, burn injury cases have been increasing across the country.



The Bir Hospital, which is the country´s largest referral center, said that the number of patients with burn injuries have increased markedly during the past one month. [break]Each day more than two people with burns visit the hospital for treatment which is more than double the average, the emergency department said.



People across the country have been experiencing bone chilling cold after temperatures dipped to sub zero this week. So, warming oneself at fires is the most common way to stave off the cold. Local authorities across the Tarai have organized bonfires at public places for the relief of the people.



According to the burns unit at the hospital, all 12 patients admitted to the unit were injured when they were warming themselves at fires. Bishnu Maya Gautam, 56 of Korianpur-16, Nepalgunj said her back caught fire when she was warming herself at her home on Tuesday.



Her husband Bamdev brunt his both hands while dousing her burning back. She was initially admitted to a nursing home in Nepalgunj which later referred her to Kathmandu, her husband Bamdev said. "She caught fire starting from her sari and it spread to her trousers," he said. Doctors said she has suffered 30 percent burns.



Likewise Manju Devi, 35, of Janakpur is another patient undergoing treatment for burns at the hospital. She caught fire on her sari while warming herself at fire, her relative, who was attending to her, said.



Similarly, Hira Devi Poudel, 68, of Gaurighat, Katmandu was seriously injured three weeks ago when she was hit by smoldering coal bursting out of the fire, according to her son Yubaraj.



Rama Subedi, a staff nurse at the burns unit said there are 12 beds at the unit and all are occupied. The hospital said that mostly very serious patients from the districts come to the hospital after treatment becomes impossible at local level.



Dr Dhurba Lal Singh, the chief of emergency department said that a woman aged 65 from Tilathi, Saptari who had serious burn injuries died about four says ago at the hospital. He said that children and elderly people are vulnerable to fire. But the hospital record shows that people of all ages have been injured by fire.



Doctors meanwhile criticized the government´s arranging bonfires in several parts of the country. They said hot water bags could be better and safe solution to stave off the cold.

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