Hospital turns into real-life panic room

Hospital turns into real-life panic room

Rita A.Widiadana and I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post,
Denpasar, Bali

Eighteen-year-old Lucy, not her real name, looked pale and
shaken.

"I am looking for my mom. She was inside the Sari Club, while
I was outside the bar buying cigarettes. Now I don't know where
she is," cried Lucy while waiting for a list of victims to be
released by the Sanglah General Hospital at midnight on Oct. 11.

Lucy was just one of hundreds of people who were helplessly
trying to find news of their loved ones after Saturday night's
bomb blast at the Sari Club and Paddy's discotheque in Legian's
nightlife hub in Kuta.

Lucy and her mother, both Australian, have been in Bali for a
few months. "We rarely go out on the weekend. I don't know why we
went there tonight," she said in a broken voice.

Ambulances kept coming and going to drop off the injured at
the hospital's emergency ward. The victims have been admitted to
a number of hospitals in nearby areas.

Ambulance sirens broke the night silence. In just a few hours,
local residents had flocked to clinics, hospitals and other
crisis centers to check if any of their loved ones were among the
victims.

I Made Suardja, a resident of Kreneng, said he had heard a
powerful sound. "I thought there was a fire near my house," he
said.

More than 300 patients were rushed to Sanglah hospital where
medical equipment was adequate to treat the injured. Around 180
bodies were also taken to the hospital.

Dr. Lanang Made Rudhiartha, director of the Sanglah hospital,
said he did the best he could to treat the injured.

"This is the first time Sanglah hospital has received such a
big number of patients in a profound emergency," Lanang said.

Bali Governor I Dewa Made Beratha, who visited victims at the
hospital at 2 a.m. on Sunday, said that Australian Consular
General Ross Tysoe had called him to offer any assistance
required.

When the governor left the hospital, a tearful Balinese girl
was looking for a name on the white board. "My brother was a
barman at the Sari Club. I hope he is still alive," the girl
sobbed.

Agus Tasi, a worker at the Sari Club, survived.

"I heard a blast from outside the club and ran to the front
door, which flew off and was destroyed in the second blast," Agus
said.

He rushed to the back door to get out of the club. Agus
received slight injuries to his hands and head.

"I was reported dead at first because nobody could find me,
but somebody had put me in an ambulance heading for Sanglah
hospital," said Agus, who lives in Denpasar.

Agus said he was treated by a nurse on the hospital floor
because of a lack of beds. "When they found that my injury was
not so serious, they let me go home alone," Agus said. "Two of my
work mates died," he added.

Ika Mardiana, a renowned designer, said she wanted to provide
medicine, food and drinks for those in need but did not know
where to send them.

A number of expatriates living in Bali were also helpful. "We
just want to be with those who do not have anybody here in Bali,"
said one Australian woman.

Debe Campbell, a public relations officer in Bali, was looking
for expatriate colleagues with Rh negative blood, which is
uncommon among Indonesians.

"We desperately need A negative, B negative and O negative
blood. If you have friends or families with such blood types
please contact the Sanglah Hospital here," she said.

Many Western patients will need blood transfusions due to
critical injuries. Others will need skin grafts to treat third
degree burns.

"It was a really bloody Sunday that I won't forget for the
rest of my life," a German patient said.

Important phone numbers:

* Sanglah General Hospital: 0361-227911
* Puri Raharja Hospital: 0361- 229118
* Kasih Ibu Hospital: 120 0361-223036
* Udayana Army Hospital: 0361 228061