Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber Accident

[Guest guest]

Reprinted in the Schafer report today..

NEWS

Woman Hurt In Hyperbaric Chamber Explosion Dies

Child still listed in critical condition

Lauderdale-By-The-Sea (CBS4) - is.gd/wrzL

The grandmother of four-year-old Francesco Pio isi has died from

her injuries suffered when a hyperbaric chamber she was in with Francesco

exploded, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office. Francesco's condition

is still listed as critical.

Francesco came out of surgery late Friday night. His cousins told CBS4

Reporter Natalia Zea he is in critical condition, with burns covering 90

percent of his body.

Francesco and his grandmother were both badly burned during

specialized hyperbaric oxygen therapy that is meant to help him. Hyperbaric

oxygen chambers are used to breathe pure oxygen while under increased air

pressure as a means to treat a variety of medical conditions.

Francesco has Cerebral Palsy. It has prevented him from being able to

talk, and he has difficulty walking. His family spends hundreds of thousands

of dollars and most of their time on his treatment.

They came to the Ocean Hyperbaric Oxygen Neurologic Center at 4001

Ocean Drive in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea because hyperbaric oxygen therapy isn't

offered in their home country of Italy. But the treatment that was supposed

to help Francesco gain balance so he can walk has put him in critical

condition and killed his grandmother.

Initial reports show they were both inside a hyperbaric chamber when

it exploded and was caught in a flash fire.

Witness Huffman remembers the chaos. She says, " Dr. Sierra was

screaming to get out of the building. We went downstairs and there was smoke

pouring out of the room where the hyperbaric chambers are. "

Heier ran out, too. " It was scary, I'm just worried and I

hope everyone's ok. "

Sadly, Francesco and his grandmother were not ok. They were burned on

most of their bodies and were rushed to Memorial Hospital's burn

unit. A Broward Sheriff's Deputy risked his life to pull them out of the

fire.

All the commotion left employees at the Center stunned and visibly

upset.

Alessandra Ancona is a friend of the family. She doesn't understand

how the chamber caught fire. She was in disbelief.

The chamber where this tragedy happened has now been taken out of the

Center, and the little boy who has already been through so much is fighting

to recover.

Francesco's parents both still live in Italy. His dad has stayed with

him here in Florida for the past six months and left a week ago for the

birth of Francesco's younger sibling. Now, his father has arrived back to

Florida to watch over his critically burned son.

[Guest guest]

Rob-I am shocked and saddened that a tragedy like this could happen. I pray for

the boy who has already suffered so much to make a full recovery. I also will

get back to you about the article on the genetics of autism. I think there is

much to?be wary of out there for us parents of special needs kids. Dr. Goldberg

has always advised us correctly and we are fortunate that?he has all these

years.

Gayle

Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber Accident

Reprinted in the Schafer report today..

NEWS

Woman Hurt In Hyperbaric Chamber Explosion Dies

Child still listed in critical condition

Lauderdale-By-The-Sea (CBS4) - is.gd/wrzL

The grandmother of four-year-old Francesco Pio isi has died from

her injuries suffered when a hyperbaric chamber she was in with Francesco

exploded, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office. Francesco's condition

is still listed as critical.

Francesco came out of surgery late Friday night. His cousins told CBS4

Reporter Natalia Zea he is in critical condition, with burns covering 90

percent of his body.

Francesco and his grandmother were both badly burned during

specialized hyperbaric oxygen therapy that is meant to help him. Hyperbaric

oxygen chambers are used to breathe pure oxygen while under increased air

pressure as a means to treat a variety of medical conditions.

Francesco has Cerebral Palsy. It has prevented him from being able to

talk, and he has difficulty walking. His family spends hundreds of thousands

of dollars and most of their time on his treatment.

They came to the Ocean Hyperbaric Oxygen Neurologic Center at 4001

Ocean Drive in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea because hyperbaric oxygen therapy isn't

offered in their home country of Italy. But the treatment that was supposed

to help Francesco gain balance so he can walk has put him in critical

condition and killed his grandmother.

Initial reports show they were both inside a hyperbaric chamber when

it exploded and was caught in a flash fire.

Witness Huffman remembers the chaos. She says, " Dr. Sierra was

screaming to get out of the building. We went downstairs and there was smoke

pouring out of the room where the hyperbaric chambers are. "

Heier ran out, too. " It was scary, I'm just worried and I

hope everyone's ok. "

Sadly, Francesco and his grandmother were not ok. They were burned on

most of their bodies and were rushed to Memorial Hospital's burn

unit. A Broward Sheriff's Deputy risked his life to pull them out of the

fire.

All the commotion left employees at the Center stunned and visibly

upset.

Alessandra Ancona is a friend of the family. She doesn't understand

how the chamber caught fire. She was in disbelief.

The chamber where this tragedy happened has now been taken out of the

Center, and the little boy who has already been through so much is fighting

to recover.

Francesco's parents both still live in Italy. His dad has stayed with

him here in Florida for the past six months and left a week ago for the

birth of Francesco's younger sibling. Now, his father has arrived back to

Florida to watch over his critically burned son.