Fire victims critical

Monday's explosion at the Ford Motor Co. plant had left all nine victims who were admitted to the University Medical Center in critical condition as of late yesterday afternoon.

At a press conference yesterday, University Trauma Burn assistant Prof. Paul Taheri said the hospital's job is "to get the patients through this and help the families out."

The explosion and fire that occurred at the Ford River Rouge Complex in Dearborn killed one worker - identified as Donald Harper, who had worked with the company for 35 years.

Of the 30 Ford employees who were injured, 16 were sent to Metro Detroit and Ann Arbor hospitals, said Nick Sharkey, Ford Motor Co. Great Lakes regional manager for public affairs.

"We don't know what happened," Sharkey said. "The source of the explosion is unknown, but an investigation is underway."

AP PHOTO A victim of the Ford plant fire in Dearborn is carried into the University Hospitals' emergency room Monday afternoon.

Early yesterday morning, seven of the nine University patients who were admitted into the Trauma Burn Intensive Care Unit were listed in "critical" condition while two were listed as "fair," said University Hospital spokesperson Carol Craig.

Craig said a critical patient's "vital signs are unstable or not within normal limits, major complications are involved, death may be imminent and the prognosis is questionable."

A patient in fair condition "is conscious, vital signs are stable and within normal limits," Craig said. "The patient may be uncomfortable or experiencing minor complications."

By early afternoon yesterday, Craig said, one University patient who had been listed in fair condition was moved to critical condition.

At the press conference, Taheri said the last patient was changed to critical condition "as a preventative measure."

Fifty to sixty percent of their bodies are covered with burns, Craig said.

Taheri said all the patients have been put on ventilators to assist their breathing. The most severely injured patients - those with burns to their head and upper respiratory tract - will have to wait for skin graph surgery. Six patients were able to have the surgery early this morning.

Mike Vaughn, Public Affairs Manager for Ford Vehicle Operations, said the company will attempt to get all or most of their complex running again today.

More information about the patients' conditions will be released today in a press conference.

major complications are involved, death may be imminent and the prognosis is questionable."

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