Temple's Chief Medical Officer: Passengers Describe Derailment Scene As 'Chaotic And Difficult'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – As doctors and nurses continue to treat the injured passengers of the Amtrak train derailment, Temple University Hospital's Chief Medical Officer provided an update on the situation.
Dr. Herb Cushing said he spoke to several patients from the last two train cars who were awake and able to talk.
"I didn't speak to anyone awake who was further up in the train," Dr. Cushing explained. "So they said it was chaotic and difficult, and the folks I talked to were injured because people fell on them or things fell on them in the train."
Eight people remain in critical condition at the hospital and 25 have been admitted. A total of 54 patients were treated at Temple, which received the highest volume of injured passengers as well as the most seriously injured. A sixth passenger who recently passed away at Temple is said to have had a massive chest injury. Around noon on Wednesday, CBS3's Walt Hunter reported a seventh person had died.
A Level 4 Mass Casualty alert was sounded at the hospital, which Health Reporter Stephanie Stahl essentially said means "all hands on deck."
Most of the injuries suffered by those at Temple are reportedly fractures to the limbs. The hospital's ER has since reopened.
Meanwhile, sources at other local hospitals tell Stephanie Stahl that the injured patients have been mostly "stabilized."
The focus is now said to be moving towards uniting the injured passengers with their families and loved ones.