Hospitals

Online community connects Marathon runners with shelter and support after explosions

A Twitter hashtag, two Google docs, and several other “how to help” sources sprang up soon after the two explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon Monday afternoon.

By on April 16, 2013

A Twitter hashtag, a pair of Google docs, and several “how to help” sources sprang up soon after the two explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon Monday afternoon.

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The Boston Globe reported that at least 140 people are injured and three are dead after two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon Monday afternoon. Local hospitals treated shrapnel wounds, open fractures and limb injuries. NBC News has a timeline of the day’s events at the Marathon.

James Edwards, an associate producer for @wgbhnews and @GreaterBoston, gave these patient counts and hospital updates on Twitter as of 9 pm Monday evening:

  • Beth Israel – 21 patients total, 18 major, 3 minor, 7 life-threatening
  • Boston Medical Center – 23 patients , most sustained lower leg injuries. 7 fair condition, 16 serious.
  • Brigham & Women – 28 patients, mostly bone & tissue injuries, 8-10 serious, 2 critical, 9 taken to OR, 2 injuries potentially life-threatening, patients range in age from teen to mid-60s
  • Mass. Gen. – 22 patients total, 6 critical, 5 serious
  • Tufts – 9 patients hurt from attack, none critical, 8 more patients w/ marathon-related injuries

Google created two docs: one for people offering help and one for people looking for it. Normally only 50 people can access a Google doc at one time, but the company lifted that rule for this tragedy.

Google also has a Person Finder page where people can look for information on friends and family members as well as post information that they have about individuals affected by the bomb.

The American Red Cross reported around 5 that they had enough blood for the time being. The group urged people to register at the Safe and Well website.

To find out if an individual runner completed the race, use the athlete tracking tool on the Marathon’s site.

In this and many other videos clips of the explosion, you can see an older man in an orange shirt fall down and roll onto his back from the shock wave. Bill Iffrig, a 78-year-old Washington state man, was running in his third Boston Marathon. His only physical injury was a scrape on his knee.

You can get updates from The Boston Marathon’s Twitter and Facebook accounts.