During the last five years, there have been 500 people who have died due to burns in the Dominican Republic. This is an average of 100 a year.
The death toll is from reports by the Pearl F Ort burn center in Santo Domingo that handles adult burn cases. Also from the pediatric hospitals Arturo Grullón in Santiago and Robert Reid in Santo Domingo where burn centers care for burned children. Other deaths are reported from those who died at the scene due to a fire, electrocution, scalding, chemical, acid and contact with something hot.
The figures mean that the Dominican Republic is among countries with the highest level of burn-related deaths. Burns from fire and electrocution are the most common. Of the electrocution cases, 95% is due to people touching live wires. According to Eddy Bruno, head of the adult burns’ unit, among the most dramatic are the deaths of persons when trying to set up irregular connections to steal electricity.
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Listin Diario
19 March 2019