J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2001 Sep;12(3):338-344.

Injuries and Their Complications after Urban Area Fires: The Dong-Incheon Live-Hof Restaurant Fire

• Shin JH
• Kim JK
• Yeom SL
• Shin JH
• Min SS
• Lim YS
• Yang HJ
• Lee K
• Hwang SY

Abstract

BACKGROUND: High risks of fire alway exist for buildings in urban areas, especially those in downtown. Crowds, as well as more complex and larger structures, may cause more victims in the event of fire; therefore, emergency medical service plans must be established for such disastrous events.
METHODS
On the evening of October 30, 1999, a fire broke out in downtown, Dong-Incheon Live-Hof restaurant; 56 people were killed and 76 were injured. Most of them were teenagers. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the victims.
RESULTS
1) Among the 56 dead, 54 died from smoke inhalation, one from extensive burns, and one from sepsis during treatment. 2) Among the 76 injured, 70 patients suffered from smoke inhalation, 53 from burns, and 9 from several types of trauma (sprains, contusions, lacerations, abrasions, fractures, etc.). 3) Later complications were laryngeal edema, pulmonary edema, scar contracture, and hypoxic brain damage, and so forth. 4) Post traumatic stress syndrome was unexpectedly more prevalent in mildly to moderately injured survivors and witnesses than in seriously injured survivors.
CONCLUSION
Many complications exist after a fire. Some may be resolved in time, but others may result in permanent sequelae. Early rescue, early triage, and early management during transport by emergency medical service (EMS) personnel can result in fewer complications and a lower mortality rate. Therefore, we propose the establishment of plans to be followed during various major disasters.

Keyword

Emergency medical service; Smoke inhalation; Disaster

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Burns
Cicatrix
Contracture
Contusions
Disasters
Emergency Medical Services
Fires*
Humans
Hypoxia, Brain
Inhalation
Lacerations
Laryngeal Edema
Medical Records
Mortality
Pulmonary Edema
Restaurants*
Retrospective Studies
Sepsis
Smoke
Survivors
Triage
Smoke