Picture via Ralph Saade
Melanie Freiha is an 18-year old student who died in a ski accident last weekend in Kfardebian. I couldn’t figure out the exact circumstances of her tragic death but I know that it took some time to transfer her to the nearest hospital in Ajaltoun where she died during surgery. The same happened with Yves Nawfal as the roads were all covered with snow and the Red Cross needed some time to get to Saint Georges in Ajaltoun which is 30 minutes away if not more. Moreover, the Kfardebian – Faraya road is usually blocked due to traffic during weekends, specially in daytime, and we’ve all seen what happened the last time a poor guy tried to clear the way for an ambulance.
Having said all that, I think it’s about time the authorities or the concerned parties invest in building a proper emergency clinic next to ski resorts and in the Kfardebian area. I know for a fact that the Red Cross has a branch in Kfardebian but I don’t think they are equipped to receive and treat emergencies. We need a medical center that has a well trained ER team, as well as emergency physicians, trauma surgeons and nurses capable of evaluating injuries and treating minor ones, and assessing the severity of one’s injury and the need to transfer him to another clinic or hospital. If Melanie was given the necessary treatment in the first 60 minutes of the accident, also known as the golden hour, she could have had a better chance of surviving maybe.
Speaking of hospitals, it’s quite weird that we don’t have any good hospital in the whole Keserwan district which is one of Lebanon’s biggest districts. I’ve been to Saydit Lebnen, Saint Louis and Saint Georges and they are all average, if not below average, hospitals when compared to the ones in Beirut. Maybe it’s time that Lebanon’s Health Ministry tackles this serious problem and sets proper standards for hospitals.
Sincere condolences to Melanie’s family.
They need a chopper dedicated to cases like this. A clinic that’s not equipped with most up to date equipment and medical doctors will be nothing but a band aid!
So sad… There is a new medical center opening soon (or maybe already opened) in Kfarhbeb. It’s called the KMC (Keserwan Medical Center) and is in affiliation with AUBMC. You should check it out they seem very pro.
Dear All and Maya,
It is true, Keserwan Medical Center Affiliated witj AUBMC is softly open by now.
Medical Imaging, Laboratory and outpatient clinics are open by now.
ER and inpatient will be open within the coming few months.
We hope to service the community very soo
For any inquiries, please do not hesitate to call 09850554, 70940730
Raschele Nassar, Executive Project Coordinator KMC
This is another “Waynieh l dawleh” argument.
Hospitals managed by the private sector are the good ones, and the economics dont work for them to open in Kfardebian.
The ones run by the public sector are a disaster, and even if one is open in Kfardebian area, this wouldn’t have saved Melanie.
What should be done is some accountability for the company operating the ski slopes. There policy over everything is clearly one of not caring.
They don’t care about the parking, they dont care about transportation, they dont care about having proper queuing system, presales, credit card etc..
They clearly don’t care so much about safety. They could do much more by having an emergency clinic for example..
A helicopter… That s the only solution. It will fly the injured person within minutes from the accident, for fast medical assistance. Melanie, Yves and so many more… You have touched each one of us. Hope you touch lebanese authorities and resort management. RIP
too sad, but the only alternative is to have a helicopter bring the severely injured to a teaching hospital in Beirut, after all the ski resorts are only 20 mins away by helicopter !
Maybe she would have been saved if there had been helicopters, but unfortunately, they need enormous financial support. And even in countries like France and Switzerland, they still need a couple of hours to get there (by experience). So I think the Red Cross was really the fastest way to get her to a hospital.
And also, although it’s extremely urgent that they build proper hospitals and pharmacies close to the domain, they would only be active in winter. In summer, they would be almost empty. So I can understand where the challenging part lies.
IT IS A MUST TO HAVE A MEDICAL STATION AT THE FEET OF THE SLOPES ATTENDED BY QUALIFIED MEDICAL CORP TO HANDEL MINOR AND MEDIUM INJURIES BEFORE TRANSPORTING THE SEVERE ONES BY HELICOPTER TO THE GOOD HOSPITALS THAT ARE DEFINITELY NOT IN KESSERWAN ! THERE IS A HELIPORT IN AUH , RISK LAU CLINIC , AND HOTEL DIEU . THE SEVERE CASES SHOULD BE TRANSFERRED ONLYYYYYYYY TO THOSE HOSPITALS . HAVING SAID THIS , the resort itself should be REHABILITATED AND HAS TO ESTABLISH RULES AS : RED FLAGS AND CLOSING THE SLOPES WHEN THE SNOW MELTS DEFINE THE
SLOPES WITH SAFE SIGNS , CREATE A DEFINE SPACE FOR KIDS AND LUGES ,BEGINNERS SHOULD BE LEARNING IN LIMITED AREAS . HELMETS AND BODY PROTECTIONS HAVE TO BE A REGULATION THAT NO ONE CAN OVER RULE . THE TELESIEGES SHOULD BE UNDER CONSTANT CHECK UP . IT SHOULD STOP WHEN LOADING SKIERS NOT RUSHING THEM IN IT WITHOUT GIVING THEM TIME TO SIT PROPERLY AND ENDANGERING THEM IN MANY WAYS ! THE ARRIVING SPOTS SHOULD BE FAR FROM THE QUEUES OF DEPARTURES! AND SURELY NOT SO ABRUPT ! THE FENCES ARE MORE DANGEROUS THAN THE POLES AROUND ! SKIERS CAN EASELY FIND THEMSELVES JUMPING ON THE PEOPLE SITTING ON THE TERRACE OF THE HOTEL ! WE CAN AD MORE AND MORE …