A Fire Brigade officer who was injured in a fire in Andheri earlier this month continues to be in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the National Burns Centre (NBC) in Airoli. He has inhalation injuries and requires intensive rehabilitation. He has burn injuries on his hands. On September 11, a fire broke out at a pharmaceutical company in Andheri’s Madhur Industrial Estate. Eight fire engines and water tankers were sent to the spot as it raged for almost 12 hours. During operations, Yogesh Shelar, Station Officer at the Goregaon fire station, reportedly tried to open one of the doors when the flames leapt into his hands. Since he screamed, the heat also damaged his respiratory tract. He was first admitted to Cooper Hospital from where he was shifted to the NBC, Airoli. He has been in the ICU since then and was on tracheostomy till Thursday. A tracheostomy is a surgical procedure to create an opening in the neck for direct access to the trachea (breathing tube). “He has inhalation injuries and about 8% burns on his hands. The hands may require skin grafting if they do not heal on their own. They are easily reconstructable,” said Dr. Sunil Keswani, director of NBC. According to Dr. Keswani, the inhalation injuries are a bigger concern. Mr. Shelar was able to breathe without external support on Friday. “The problem with such injuries is we cannot see the extent of damage and the healing happens on a microscopic level. Sometimes, it may even take five weeks. He will be on supportive respiratory care till then,” Dr. Keswani said. Meanwhile, the two other station officers at Goregaon are also unavailable as one has typhoid while another is away for training. Mr. Shelar’s wife delivered a baby in June and the family hopes he will recover soon enough to be with the child again. “We hope he gets to hold his baby. The Fire Brigade is standing firmly by our side and we have full faith in the doctors,” said Prabhakar Shelar, the fire officer’s father.

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