Family of boy killed in hyperbaric chamber explosion at Troy medical center retains attorney

Five-year-old Thomas Cooper perished in an explosion in Troy on January 31.

Troy, Michigan (Fox 2):Fieger Law has been hired by the family of five-year-old Thomas Cooper, who was murdered Friday morning in an explosion at a medical facility in Troy, for any future legal proceedings resulting from the tragedy.

Additionally, Fieger Law is representing the boy’s mother, who was hurt in the explosion.

Fieger Law Managing Partner James Harrington said, “This is an unimaginable tragedy, and our hearts are with the family as they navigate this immeasurable loss.” “At this time, we ask that the media and general public respect the family’s privacy. We are looking into every facet of this issue and will provide an update when we have more information. Children’s safety should always come first, and this occurrence raises important questions regarding hyperbaric chambers as well as the supervision and control of hyperbaric therapy.

According to police and fire officials, the boy passed away at a center on Kirts Boulevard after a hyperbaric chamber exploded.

What we know:

Following reports of an explosion, Troy police and fire department units arrived at 165 Kirts Blvd. in Troy at approximately 8 a.m. on Friday.

A hyperbaric chamber inside the structure exploded, killing a 5-year-old boy. His mother’s arms were also injured; she was standing close to the chamber at the time.

The person who passed away lived in Royal Oak.

When firefighters arrived, they had to put out a fire within the chamber. The chamber was its only confinement. The explosion did not injure the building’s medical personnel either.

“Shortly after 8 a.m. this morning, Troy Fire and Police Department responded to a medical facility at 165 Kirts Boulevard for a report of a hyperbaric chamber explosion with a child still inside the chamber,” said fire lieutenant Keith Young on Friday.

What is unknown to us:

The cause of the explosion was unknown to the police, who only received preliminary information.

What the child was receiving treatment for while in the chamber is likewise unknown.

The center’s accreditation and authorization to operate a hyperbaric chamber are still being investigated by officials.

Next steps:

The Oakland Community Health Network’s social workers will be on hand to assist the facility’s medical staff and emergency responders who arrived on the site.

According to Young, the probe would involve several jurisdictions because the state is in charge of these institutes.

What is a hyperbaric chamber?

Look more closely:

A pressurized space or container with 100% oxygen within is called a hyperbaric chamber.

The Mayo Clinic states that patients receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy utilize it to treat decompression sickness, a condition brought on by abrupt reductions in ambient pressure.

The objective is to increase oxygen delivery to bodily tissue that has been harmed by illness or trauma.

The air pressure is two to three times higher in a hyperbaric chamber than it is outside. In this manner, more oxygen can reach the lungs, promoting the development of new blood vessels and strengthening the immune system.

The chamber may become extremely flammable due to the pressure inside it.

Up to five times as much oxygen is present in a hyperbaric chamber as in a typical room. According to Young, an environment under pressure can become particularly flammable due to the high concentration of oxygen present.

These types of events are quite rare, he added.