KUALA LUMPUR, 18 March 2018:
The Kuala Lumpur Hospital’s (HKL) Emergency Department will hold a debriefing meeting with the hospital’s top management to set up a contingency strategy following a fire which broke out yesterday in the storeroom of the Pathology Laboratory, National Institute of Forensic Medicine there.
Emergency Medical and Trauma Department specialist Dr Alzamani Mohammad Idrose said the meeting would involve heads of departments, matrons, as well as those from the engineering and pharmacy divisions to discuss the Business Continuity Plan.
He said the matter would be discussed in detail to ensure the safety of all patients and staff, adding that the hospital system and operations would go on smoothly.
“HKL has the contingency plan to ensure its smooth operations…Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah), the hospital services are still operating smoothly despite interruptions due to repair works by the engineering division,” he said in a statement.
Dr Alzamani Mohammad said the situation was well handled due to swift response from all parties, adding that firefighters are now carrying out forensic investigation to ascertain the cause of fire.
“As such, we are helping in every possible way so that a thorough investigation can be conducted. At the same time, the engineering side is monitoring the oxygen and electricity supply.”
Dr Alzamani Mohammad said at press time, business was as usual at the hospital. In the 12.15pm incident, the hospital’s store room caught fire but no injuries were reported.
The fire is believed to have been due to a short circuit.
Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department director Khirudin Drahman said the store contained post-mortem equipment made of plastic.
He said the fire had caused two officers who were at the store on the ground floor of the building to be trapped, but both of them managed to go to the upper floor before being rescued by firemen.
“Following the incident, HKL personnel took the immediate action of closing all electrical switches at the laboratory, as well as carrying out about 150 oxygen tanks to a safe place.
“Firemen also removed all HKL samples placed in the refrigerators, as well as 19 bodies from the corpse room as the refrigerator switches were also closed.”
Khirudin said the store was completely burnt, but the fire did not spread to other parts of the facility as the firemen brought it under control within 30 minutes.
“HKL continues to operate as usual, except for the store room which has been temporarily closed for fire forensic investigation.
“The Fire and Rescue Department received an emergency call at about 12.20pm and arrived at the scene 10 minutes later with five fire-engines from the Titiwangsa and KLCC fire and rescue stations with a manpower of 31 personnel and eight officers.”
He also commended HKL staff for calling the HKL Emergency Response Team while waiting for the firemen to arrive.
– Bernama
