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Details of the 11th MOHW ad hoc group meeting in response to the Formosa Fun Coast Dust Explosion

  • Data Source:Ministry of Health and Welfare
  • Created:2015-07-09
  • Last Updated:2017-01-11

In response to the needs for medical care and social welfare in the aftermath of the Formosa Fun Coast incident, Minister Chiang Been-huang of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) presided at the 11th meeting of the MOHW ad hoc group on the afternoon of July 9, to continuously follow up the inventory of medical capacity, supply of medications and medical supplies, risk assessments for the injured, case-based care, and social welfare and relief services. Matters such as the deployment of medical personnel, blood supply from the blood centers, and post-discharge follow-ups were also explored and discussed. 

1. According to the statistical data as of 12 p.m. on July 9, 1,122 personnel (76 physicians, 991 nursing personnel, and 67 other personnel) had been registered on the EOC (Emergency Operation Center) Support Staff Integration Platform. 25 physicians have been requested, and seven were successfully matched. 103 nursing personnel have been requested, among whom 88 were recruited and deployed by the hospitals, and three were successfully matched. No other personnel were requested. Moreover, 996 beds were available in the intensive care units and 39 available in the burn intensive care units. 

2. There have been 8,528 entries of emergency contact information of Type O (Rh-negative) blood donors in the rare blood database of the blood centers under the Taiwan Blood Services Foundation. When there is an insufficient supply of blood for medical purposes, these donors will be contacted for blood donation at the designated locations closest to them. 

3. The Department of Social Assistance and Social Work and the Department of Mental and Oral Health are in charge of the care services for the hospitalized victims, and the New Taipei City Government has been sending its personnel to the hospitals to help provide case-based care. In addition, the Department of Social Assistance and Social Work, the Social and Family Affairs Administration, and the New Taipei City Government are jointly responsible for post-discharge follow-ups. So far 70 people have been discharged (categorized via their registered addresses: 30 in New Taipei City, 7 in Taipei City, 4 in Taoyuan City, 1 in Hsinchu City, 5 in Miaoli County, 4 in Taichung City, 2 in Nantou County, 1 in Chiayi County, 1 in Tainan City, 1 in Keelung City, 4 in Hualien County, 7 from abroad, and 2 unknown due to lack of relevant data). Of the 42 people who left telephone numbers, 37 have been contacted by phone (5 could not be reached). The results of the phone visits are as follows: 2 required psychological counseling services, 2 received psychological counseling services, 16 were offered relevant information without immediate needs for welfare services, and 17 requested follow-up assistance. 

4. A total of 700,000 cm2 of cadaveric skin were purchased from abroad during the first phase of procurement, and 245,600 cm2 have been received. 78,900 cm2 of cadaveric skin will arrive in Taiwan this evening, and 375,500 cm2 have yet to be imported. The MOHW expects to purchase about 800,000 cm2 of cadaveric skin during the second phase. The procurement process is still actively ongoing. 

5. Statistics of hospitalization and treatment for the victims of the Formosa Fun Coast Dust Explosion: 
(1) As of 10:00 on July 9, 420 people continued to receive inpatient treatment at 49 hospitals. Of the hospitalized victims, 277 were in the intensive care units, 224 were in critical condition, and three have passed away. They were treated at 49 hospitals in 13 cities and counties, including: Keelung City, Taipei City, New Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu City, Taichung City, Kaohsiung City, Tainan City, Changhua County, Chiayi County, Chiayi City, Hualien County, and Yilan County. 

(2) According to an analysis of the existing data, the average percentage of burned area for the victims of this incident was about 44%. 249 people sustained burns that covered over 40% of their body, and 22 of them sustained burns that covered over 80% of their body. 

To respond to the stress issues experienced by the family members of the victims and the medical personnel in the aftermath of the dust explosion, the MOHW has set up the 8590-6199 counseling hotline to answer relevant questions. On July 8, the Department of Medical Affairs also requested the 49 hospitals involved in the medical treatment to combine their psychological therapy-related resources and set up a 24-hour psychological counseling hotline dedicated to their staff, so as to provide the hospital staff with mental and emotional support. 

The Information Section for the 0627 Formosa Fun Coast Dust Explosion was created on July 1st by the MOHW to provide up-to-date medical care and social welfare information about the Formosa Fun Coast Dust Explosion. The Ministry welcomes the public to conduct Internet inquiries to learn about related information on how the government is actively managing the aftermath of the incident. The section can be found at http://www.mohw.gov.tw/CHT/blast/