Health Minister Ma. Subramanian inspecting the Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital where a 20-bed special burns ward had been set up.

Ahead of Deepavali, a 20-bed special burns ward has been set up at the Government Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) Hospital. Similar special wards were set up in government medical college hospitals, district headquarters hospitals and taluk hospitals in the State.

Health Minister Ma. Subramanian, who inspected the facility on Thursday, told reporters that there are 12 beds for men and eight beds for women and children. The ward has five ventilators. He said it was ensured that the required drugs to treat burn injuries were available.

The Police department, Fire and Rescue Services and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board were taking efforts to create awareness on the permitted time to burst fire crackers and to stay safe.

He also released pamphlets on the dos and don'ts while bursting fire crackers.

The Minister said that children should be allowed to light crackers only under the supervision of adults. Wear cotton clothes, avoid nylon, silk and long clothes while lighting crackers, he advised.

List of measures

He listed some of the other precautionary measures such as keeping a bucket of water nearby, bursting crackers in open spaces and maintaining distance from each other while igniting fire crackers.

He elaborated on the various new facilities, including a hybrid operation theatre, added at the hospital. The Minister said that construction of tower block-2 at a cost of ₹125 crore is under way, while building for in-patient wards and maternal and child care wards were being constructed at a cost of ₹21 crore. A mortuary is also being built at ₹1.50 crore.

Director of Medical Education and Research R. Suganthy Rajakumari, dean of KMC M. Kavitha, vice principal Senthil Kumari, resident medical officer Vani and head of Department of Burns, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Mahadevan were present.

Special burns ward opened at KMC; Minister asks people to burst crackers with caution