Jan 24, 2008 2:50 pm US/Central
Newborn Remains Critical, Investigation Ongoing
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ―
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The boy, whose first name is Maverick, was just 12 hours old when he was burned Tuesday morning at Mercy Hospital in suburban Coon Rapids.
CBS
A newborn boy remained in critical but stable condition Thursday with burns to his face, head, shoulders and hands after a flame ignited inside an oxygen hood he was wearing.
The boy, whose first name is Maverick, was just 12 hours old when he was burned Tuesday morning at Mercy Hospital in suburban Coon Rapids. The boy was lying in an open-topped bassinet under a warmer and was using an oxygen hood, which fits over the face to supply additional oxygen.
Authorities are still investigating how the fire started.
"The investigation is ongoing, and when it's ongoing, we don't release anything. It's probably going to be awhile before we know the cause," said Coon Rapids Fire Chief John Piper. The state fire marshal's office and Allina Hospital and Clinics officials are also involved in the investigation.
Piper said it was too early to tell whether one particular device was to blame.
"Any time you have an infant in one of these warmers there's multiple things going on. The oxygen hood is one of the issues, but it's not the only issue," Piper said.
Family attorney Chris Messerly said Maverick was born by Caesarean section and the parents were on their way to hold him for the first time when the incident occurred.
Maverick is now being treated at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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