A person who was injured in an explosion near the finish line of the 117th Boston Marathon is taken away from the scene on a stretcher. Credit: Getty Images
At least 125 people were being treated at Boston hospitals Monday night, including more than a dozen who were critically hurt, after a pair of explosions near the Boston Marathon finish line.
Three people were killed, according to Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis. One of them was reportedly an eight-year-old boy.
Massachusetts General Hospital was treating 29 patients. Eight of them were in critical condition, including four who suffered “traumatic amputations of their legs,” according to Dr. Alasdir Conn, Chief of Emergency Services. [videoembed id=134930]
[embedgallery id=134983]Of the six critical victims, five were unidentified as of Monday evening, Conn said.
Conn described the other patients as mostly “the walking wounded,” although some are being monitored for possible internal injuries.
The hospital activated its emergency disaster plan, with all available staff called in and all elective surgeries cancelled.
Psychologists and social workers are available to assist patients and their families. Conn said people who were concerned that a loved one was hurt should contact the hospital’s main switchboard at 617-726-2000.
Boston Children’s Hospital said Monday evening that it was treating eight patients whose conditions ranged from good to serious.
They included a two-year-old boy with a head injury who was in the medical/surgical intensive care unit and a nine-year-old girl with leg trauma who was in surgery.
Boston Medical Center was treating 23 patients, most with lower leg injuries, according to a statement. Seven were listed in fair condition and 16 in serious condition.
28 patients were taken to Brigham and Women’s Hospital, including two in critical condition and at least eight in serious condition. A hospital statement said nine people had surgery, among them two patients with “injuries that are potentially limb-threatening.”
Tufts Medical Center is currently treating nine patients from the explosion, and St. Elizabeth’s had 21 patients.
Police SWAT teams could be seen patrolling several Boston hospitals as a precaution. Investigators were examining victims’ clothing for possible evidence.
A Boston University student was among those critically hurt, according to a letter from BU President Robert Brown. The student’s identity was not made public.
Within the last few years, the MGH Emergency Department received training from Israeli authorities on how to deal with injuries from bomb blasts.
