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Burn Victims of Mexican Day Care to be Treated in California

by Blue Crush | June 6, 2009 at 12:51 pm

437 views | 82 Recommendations | 8 comments

UPDATE:

The death toll now stands at 41, and at least a dozen more of the children are in grave condition.

The Shriners Hospital is now treating two toddlers, both are listed in critical condition and will "require multiple sessions of skin grafting."

Shriners officials said Sunday they could handle several more burned children if necessary.

The Sacramento hospital is a regional pediatric burn center serving the western United States, Canada and Mexico. The hospital will provide free treatment, support services and housing for the children and accompanying family members, officials said.

More is being learned today about the deadly fire that tore through a Mexican daycare yesterday. The death toll has now reached 35, but there were about 142 children inside the facilities at the time of the blaze. At least 41 other children now have burns to up to 80% of their bodies.

The Shriner's Hospital for Children in Sacramento is welcoming some of these children today.

"We are responding and accepting patients who were injured,” hospital spokeswoman Catherine Curran said. She could not say how many children would arrive or when.

A 3 year old girl with burns to over 80 percent of her body has now arrived there.

Dr. Tina Palmieri, assistant chief of burns for the hospital, said the survivability rate in such cases is about 50 percent.

Shriners Hospitals is a health care system that gives children free treatment for burns, spinal cord injuries, orthopedic conditions, and cleft lip and palate problems, according to its Web site. It admits children under 18.

Mexican news reports are saying that the building was originally a warehouse and lacked proper emergency exits. They believe the fire started at a car storage plant adjoining the daycare.

Officials are still investigating.

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Amy Judd

at 12:56 on June 6th, 2009

This is beyond tragic - how awful for the families and the children.

sara star

at 13:10 on June 6th, 2009

I am glad they are getting help. Hope their families can be with them.

Blue Crush

at 13:44 on June 6th, 2009

Me too, and there's no hospital better than a Shriner's to treat them.

Authorities are allowing one parent to fly up with each burn victim without proper paperwork. Their biggest problem (last night) was matching children to parents, these poor babies are so unreconizeable.

This is just so heartbreaking!

Rhonda J Mangus

at 13:29 on June 6th, 2009

Thanks for this and the link to my earlier story, Blue Crush.

JeffHuang

at 15:41 on June 6th, 2009

Yes, what a sad story.

Paschen

at 16:01 on June 6th, 2009

Words can not describe the horror that all involved must feel and go through.

Babel-Fish

at 17:21 on June 6th, 2009

We all are sadden by this tragic event and as Paschen puts it "Words can not describe the horror". At times like this borders have to fall rules have to be broken and hearts have to be opened to those that suffer such pain.