Ready, waiting: Health facilities prepared for fire fallout

Several health care facilities across the island are on standby to deal with any negative effects on people with respiratory illnesses arising out of the industrial fire at the metal and vehicle dump at Cane Garden, St Thomas.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr Joy St John, speaking yesterday evening at a media briefing at the B’s Bottle Depot, outlined steps that were taken for those who may be adversely affected to ensure they can seek medical attention.
She said Ministry of Health officials had been in contact with the Accident & Emergency Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Eunice Gibson, Branford Taitt and Winston Scott polyclinics had all been placed on standby.
St John said there was only one report of an affected person at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s Accident and Emergency centre as a result of smoke from the fire, but she urged those living in the immediate area downwind of the fire to evacuate the area for the time being.
She said that residents should minimize their exposure to the smoke because of the chemicals that would be associated with the burning material.  
The Chief Medical Officer said personnel at the facilities were prepared but did not want to have to deal with a lot of cases, so she urged people to be cautious. As for those who did not wish to move from the path of the smoke, she again urged them to exercise common sense to stop ash and smoke from getting into their homes. (LK)