‘Something we prepare for.’ Children’s Mercy gives update on patients in rally shooting
All 12 of the victims treated at Children’s Mercy Hospital are expected to make full recoveries following Wednesday’s mass shooting at Union Station, officials said.
The hospital treated 11 minors aged 6 to 15 years old. Nine of the children were shot, while two more had other injuries. The hospital also treated one adult.
The hospital was ready to treat all of the injuries immediately, Stephanie Meyer, the hospital’s chief nursing officer, said during an update Thursday.
“It’s something we prepare for, honestly all the time, whether that’s through simulation or training,” Meyer said. “When we knew they were coming, we mobilized in a way that you think you’re only going to have to practice for, and when they came, we were ready with multiple teams standing.”
Meyer said they had teams located at the hospital’s Adele Hall campus, 2401 Gillham Road, which is a 15-minute walk from Union Station, the site of the rally and deadly shooting.
The hospital is currently treating three children from the shooting, who are expected to recover from their injuries, Meyer said. The hospital could not share the type of injuries they sustained or the ages of the children.
Kansas City police said Thursday 23 people were shot at the rally celebrating the Chiefs Super Bowl win. Half of the shooting victims are under age 16, Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said in the news conference, adding that the shooting victims range in age from 8 to 47.
Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a Johnson County mother of two and beloved disc jockey in Kansas City, died in the shooting.
The Star has tallied at least 39 injuries reported by five local hospitals that treated patients in the aftermath of Wednesday’s shooting. This number includes the nearly two dozen people who sustained gunshot wounds as well as those who were injured in other ways as parade-goers scattered.
Taking care of your children
Children’s Mercy Hospital also shared tips on how to talk to children following a mass shooting, which include looking for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, limiting their exposure to disturbing media reports and making sure parents are ready to talk to their children about difficult topics.
