Posted by Gen Gipson web site (152.163.201.213) on December 09, 2000 at 10:18:44:
Again, we need to support and encourage our sisters and brothers who provide care in this nursing home. Please feel free to email me for address. [email protected]
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3 Dead From Nursing Home Accident
By JAMES HANNAH
.c The Associated Press
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) - A third nursing home resident died Friday in what
authorities suspect was a mix-up that allowed nitrogen to be hooked up to an
in-house oxygen system.
At least two women remained in a hospital Friday among seven taken there the
day before from the Carriage-by-the-Lake nursing home in the Dayton suburb of
Bellbrook, fire officials said.
A nitrogen tank may have been mistaken for an oxygen tank, said Bob Miles, an
assistant fire chief from nearby Washington Township. He said the tank had an
oxygen label partially covered by a smaller nitrogen label.
``You could see part of the 'oxygen' word on there,'' he said.
Greene County Coroner Kevin Sharrett said preliminary autopsies of two of the
three victims did not rule out nitrogen asphyxiation but determining the
exact cause of death required further tests.
Furthermore, Sharrett said, he had not determined if nitrogen was in the tank
that was hooked to the oxygen lines.
Sugarcreek Township Police Chief Kelly Blair and Greene Country Prosecutor
William Schenck said authorities had not determined if the case should be
handled as a civil or criminal matter.
``We have not reached any, even preliminary, thought or conclusion as to
whether there is any type of criminal activity,'' said Schenck.
Miles had said investigators did not suspect criminal intent. Medical
facilities sometimes use nitrogen to purge lines used to carry air, Miles
said.
BOC Gases, which supplies the oxygen to the nursing home, said it was working
with authorities to find out what caused the accident.
``We extend our condolences to the families of all the people involved,'' the
company said in a statement.
Officials at the nursing home declined to comment Thursday and didn't return
a phone call Friday.
Robert Gill, a spokesman for the Sparks, Md.-based Integrated Health Services
Inc., which owns the nursing home, said has not seen the tank and does not
know how it was labeled.
``But this facility only has a contract to receive oxygen from our supplier.
Nitrogen has never been used here,'' he said.
Gill said that when new tanks are delivered, the supplier usually hooks up a
few. Nursing home workers then switch them with fresh tanks as needed, he
said.
``This is a terrible tragedy, and our hearts go out to the family members and
the residents involved,'' he said. ``We truly believe our staff here
conducted themselves bravely under very difficult circumstances.''
The affected residents were on an oxygen system in the same wing of the
84-bed nursing home, Miles said.
The latest victim was identified only as a 77-year-old woman. Pauline Tays,
70, died Thursday at the nursing home, and Helen Tomlin, 76, was pronounced
dead after she was taken to a hospital, Greene County authorities said.
A 70-year-old resident was listed in critical condition Friday, and a
53-year-old woman was in serious condition.
Firefighters were called to the nursing home Thursday on the report of an
illness, and soon found themselves treating several residents.
Greene County Coroner Kevin Sharrett said full toxicology results may take
several days.
On the Net:
Integrated Health Services Inc.: http://www.ihs-inc.com