Double Fire Tragedy of Kenya

Traumatic grief in Kenyan bereaved parents following the Kyanguli School fire tragedy.

Following the death of 67 boys in a fire tragedy at Kyanguli School in rural Kenya, the level of traumatic grief was assessed in a sample of 164 parents and guardians whose sons died in the fire. The study was cross-sectional. Counseling services were offered to all the bereaved parents soon after the tragedy. The subjects were interviewed using the Traumatic Grief Scale. A group of 92 parents/...

School fire in Iran: simple actions save lives.

On December 5, 2012 a fire broke out in a primary school in Iran, causing injuries to 26 children and two deaths. The fire came from an oil stove. Rather than evacuate the classroom and use the fire extinguisher, the teacher attempted to remove the stove itself from the classroom. During this process an explosion occurred resulting in a haphazard attempt at evacuation. This tragedy highlights g...

Fire ecology in Laikipia, Kenya

The true cost of maternal death: individual tragedy impacts family, community and nations

The death of a woman in pregnancy and childbirth is globally considered an individual tragedy and a human rights violation. Given the inequities in death that occur to marginalized, poor, and vulnerable women in low and middle income countries, there is no doubt that maternal death is a horrific injustice. However, the long term global burden of disease goes far beyond this tragedy. Recent rese...

Wounded by violence. Can a KISS (Kids, Injuries, and Street Smarts) make it better?

Last year, Tyrone Sinkler, 16, and Ian Moore, his 17-year-old buddy, were gunned down in the hallway of their New York City school by a disgruntled classmate. For many EMTs and paramedics, this tragedy would have just added to the helplessness we feel when we go on calls in which children kill children. But for some New York City EMS (NYC*EMS) personnel, this incidence added fuel to their fire ...