Baby in critical condition after fire in oxygen hood at hospital
(AP) - An infant boy is in critical condition after a flame ignited while he was in a bassinet at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids.
Officials with Allina Hospital and Clinics say the infant was in an open-topped bassinet under a warmer at the hospital on Tuesday morning when the accident happened. Officials say the baby was wearing an oxygen hood and something in the oxygen-enriched environment ignited into flame.
An oxygen hood is a device that fits over a baby's face to supply additional oxygen.
Nursing staff were with the baby at the time and immediately put out the flame.
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The baby was transferred to the burn unit at Hennepin County Medical Center. A spokeswoman there says the child is in critical condition.
Allina spokesman David Kanihan says he's unaware of any other hospital experiencing such an event.
Authorities are still investigating.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)