The Chief Medical Director, LASUTH, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, who said the experience was overwhelming, narrated that early Thursday morning, around 8 am, his hospital received 85 victims at once, adding that the institution embarked on open space treatment also known as triage, which was world best practice in mass emergencies.
He explained that triage was the option because the hospital only had 30-bed spaces at the emergency unit with patients.
Fabamwo said six deaths had been recorded, adding that six victims were also operated upon.
According to him, “As concerns our 85 victims, two died on the spot at the accident scene, three of them died while we were trying to resuscitate them because they had very serious injuries, one of them who was bleeding internally that we took to the theatre didn’t make it. So, four died in the hospital making a total of 6 fatalities now. As we speak, another 17 causalities have been brought to us, making a total of 102 casualties. ”
A statement by the Lagos State Ministry of Information stated that a triage centre was set up by the management of LASUTH by erecting an emergency canopy.
“Patients were triaged into mild, moderate, and severe groups. Those with life-threatening injuries were immediately transferred to operating theatres, for stabilisation and fracture repair by specialists in these areas within LASUTH,” it read.
Some of the victims were also taken to some of the hospitals around LASUTH so as to reduce the pressure on the institution.
It further read, “Moderate cases like simple fractures and lacerations were transferred to the nearest General Hospitals such as Gbagada General Hospital, Orile Agege General Hospital, Lagos Island General Hospital and the Trauma Centre at the Toll Gate. Mild patients were admitted to the surgical ward at LASUTH. Emergency blood transfusion service was also activated by our Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service Agency and we were able to mobilise blood and blood products from our blood donors and storage to stabilise pre, during, and post-operation patients and procedures.”
A victim of the accident, Toyin Lasisi, who works with Dynamic Recoveries, Alausa, said she joined the bus at Ikotun bus stop around 6 am.
Lasisi, who sustained injuries on her legs and arms after jumping out of the bus, revealed that she was treated at LASUTH with three packs of drips.
“I joined the bus at 6 am and the driver was the regular driver of the bus, so this was not the first time he is driving on that road. I think it was just a mistake for not waiting to allow the train to pass.
“I have been treated and I was given three drips. People also came out en mass to rescue us; the ambulance also arrived on time. I jumped out of the bus immediately after the accident happened, it was so much pain but some people couldn’t jump out.”
