A team from the Johns Hopkins Burn Center flew to Taipei, Taiwan, last month to provide medical care to survivors of the recent disaster at a popular water park, where colored powder sprayed on concertgoers during the June 27 "Color Play Asia" event ignited, killing 10 people and injuring more than 500.
The group, led by Stephen Milner, director of the Johns Hopkins Burn Center, was part of a massive effort to treat burn victims following the incident. The Hopkins team also included Christina Catlett, assistant professor of emergency medicine; Kevin Gerold, associate professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine; Denver Lough, plastic and reconstructive surgery resident; Linda Ware, director of burn rehabilitation services; and Theresa Lynch, a critical care and burn nurse. They traveled from Los Angeles on the presidential plane with Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou.
The team visited 12 hospitals across the country and worked with the Taiwanese medical teams on surgeries, rehabilitation, critical care, and nursing techniques.
"It was a memorable exchange for many reasons, and we hope our effort will help in the recovery of these brave young people who are receiving excellent care from their own medical staff," Milner says.
