Workers treated for smoke inhalation

Dubai: A steady stream of workers injured in yesterday's fire was treated yesterday afternoon at Rashid Hospital.

Most of them were suffering from smoke inhalation, according to hospital officials.

Rashid Hospital's Accident and Emergency Department received 42 of the injured, one of whom was declared dead on arrival, according to Dr Mo'en Fikree, clinical director of the accident and emergency trauma centre at Rashid Hospital, the epicentre of the disaster response.

Four of the injured arrived in critical condition, and another seven were described as 'moderately critical.'

Dubai Hospital received 17 injured, including two in critical condition. Al Baraha Hospital treated another two cases.

"Most patients were treated for smoke inhalation and needed oxygen and were due for discharge yesterday evening," said Dr Mohammad Al Jamal, chairman of Dubai Hospital's disaster committee.

At Rashid Hospital, staff congregated at the entrance to the emergency department to receive the predominantly Indian, Bangladeshi and Chinese injured, with those who had not been seen to at the site receiving triage immediately upon arrival. "As soon as we ascertained what had happened we readied ourselves and issued a code that meant that it was a major disaster - the second highest level - so that we could anticipate anything," explained Dr Fikree. Inside the hospital's packed wards, men received treatment for smoke inhalation, burns and other injuries.

"The police brought me down from the 31st floor where I was stuck for over one and a half hours," recalled Indian Andhe Rajaran, as he received treatment for smoke inhalation.

Hospital staff said that smoke inhalation affected the patients' ability to breathe, their state of consciousness and led to dizziness, headaches and vomiting.

Anwar Hussain, 25, from Bangladesh, his clothes and face blackened with soot, said he was trapped on the 27th floor and witnessed three men falling from the floors above him.

"At around 1pm we suddenly realised there was a fire coming from above us. We managed to get down via the staircase, but it was full of smoke. It was a very bad and frightening experience," he told Gulf News.