The explosion took place around 8 a.m. at the Oxford Center. The young patient, who was from Royal Oak, Michigan, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. “The child’s mother sustained injuries to her arms due to her proximity to the chamber when it erupted,” stated Lt. Ben Hancock of the Troy police. The specific reason for the child’s treatment at the facility on that day remains uncertain.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is designed to enhance oxygen delivery throughout the body by administering pure oxygen in a high-pressure enclosed space. As noted by medical professionals, this therapy is often used for a range of conditions, including decompression sickness, severe tissue damage, and carbon monoxide poisoning. According to reports, hyperbaric chambers contain 100% oxygen, significantly exceeding the levels found in normal atmospheric conditions.
Fire Lt. Keith Young emphasized the risks associated with such high concentrations of oxygen in a pressurized setting, stating, “It can create a highly combustible environment.” An initial investigation is underway, but the circumstances leading to the explosion remain unclear, as this type of incident is quite rare. Although staff members were present in the vicinity of the explosion, no additional injuries were reported.
Following the explosion, a fire broke out in the room, though it was quickly extinguished and confined to the chamber itself. The Oxford Center acknowledged the incident in an email, confirming that a fire did commence within the hyperbaric oxygen chamber. They expressed their commitment to the safety of the children they serve and noted that such an event had never occurred in their over 15 years of operation in this field. They added that they are fully cooperating with the investigations that will follow.
The investigation into what led to the explosion and the subsequent fire is expected to be handed over to state authorities, according to Lt. Young.
