Boston Marathon Injury Report From Brigham And Women's Chairman Of Emergency Medicine

Brigham And Women's Hospital Doctor: 'We've Never Seen Anything Like This'
BOSTON - APRIL 15: Katherine Swierk, left, is reunited with her aunt Terry Days, center, and friend Jocelyn Cacio outside Copley Square in Boston after two explosions went off near the finish line of the 117th Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. Swierk was a race volunteer and Cascio ran the race, dropping out after 25.6 miles. (Photo by John Blanding/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON - APRIL 15: Katherine Swierk, left, is reunited with her aunt Terry Days, center, and friend Jocelyn Cacio outside Copley Square in Boston after two explosions went off near the finish line of the 117th Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. Swierk was a race volunteer and Cascio ran the race, dropping out after 25.6 miles. (Photo by John Blanding/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Following two explosions near the finish line at the Boston Marathon today, Ron M. Walls, chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Brigham and Women’s told reporters that his team was looking after 26 patients, two of whom are in critical condition. He said that eight to 10 have serious injuries. The patients were split evenly by gender and ranged in age from teens to 62 years old. There was a three-year-old who was transported to a children’s hospital earlier today.

Injuries ranged from burns -- including one patient with significant burns. Minor injuries include typical blast injuries like ear drum ruptures and the type of bone fractures you’d see during car accidents. More serious injuries include limb injuries and burns.

Walls said that his team had never seen anything like this before, but they’ve practiced drills over and over again and felt prepared.

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