Cylinder blast or gas leak injuries are common in the developing world where the majority of affected people are from the lower and middle-class population. In the developed world due to their good preventive measures and public awareness these incidences are very less.
For the last few years we have seen a rise in these types of injuries. Many of these cases are being reported from relatively new residential localities/ societies where the reason is probably poor construction materials and safety protocols not being followed. In winters there is a 25-30% rise in such incidences.
A Major Challenge
Blast injuries due to cylinder or gas leak may occur at home, work place or restaurants. On average these places have population of more than 1 person. So, when an event occurs there is usually cluster presentation of people, sometimes the victims exceed the local management capacity. Therefore, it’s a major challenge for health facilities whenever there is a gas leak or a cylinder blast.
A Major Trauma
Burn wounds due to cylinder blast and gas leaks are mostly massive and of serious nature with inhalation injuries. There may be other injuries to the patient including head injury and bone fractures which require aggressive and multidisciplinary management at specialized centers.
Specialized Care for Management
Patients with massive injuries need specialized centers for management of trauma. These facilities are not readily available in small cities and towns in the developing world, the main reason for inadequate health care provided to patients.
Referrals
Due to lack of primary and secondary health care there is no proper reporting and referral system for such emergencies and so these patients do not get proper resuscitation that lead to more morbidities and mortalities.
Inhalational Injury
Mostly gas cylinder blasts and gas leaks injuries occur in closed environment. This causes injury to the respiratory tract and lungs along with burn wounds. These patients need Ventilatory support hence, require ICU. Carbon monoxide poisoning is also common in these patients due to combustion of oxygen in a closed space.
Injury to Primary Areas
Due to massive burns in these patients Primary areas like Face, Hands, Chest and Perineum are commonly involved. This leads to critical injuries to the patient.
Regarding safety measures a lot needs to be done to prevent these accidents including improving material quality of cylinders and other gas appliances along with provision of safety valves and strict compliance to the regulations and safety protocols. Low quality gas supply lines are also one of the factors that needs to be addressed as the leakage leads to massive blasts. General public Awareness programme is needed through print and social media regarding awareness of these shortfalls and to observe proper safety measures.
Recommendations
1. Proper regulation for Gas cylinders relating to their quality control and assurance.
2. Implementation of safety measures.
3. Awareness campaigns at greater level through print and social media.
4. Public interest development towards this matter.
5. Use of good quality equipment in building construction especially supply lines and wires.
6. Use of pungent agent in Gas, so that leak can be easily detected by smell.
7. Development of regional Burn & Trauma centers even in smaller cities.
8. Health care facilities improvement.
9. Workshops and training of health care providers.
