In a devastating radiator steam burn incident, an 11-month-old lost his life in their NYC apartment. The baby boy has died after being burned by steam leaking from a radiator.
Radiator Steam Burn Incident Claims Life of 11-Month-Old Baby Boy
As reported by the New York City Police Department, they quickly responded to a distressed 911 call shortly after 6 a.m. on Friday, January 19, 2024.
Police officers responded to an apartment building on East 14th Street in Midwood in Brooklyn and discovered an 11-month-old baby boy unconscious inside a room filled with steam from a radiator that might possibly have had a broken pipe.
They discovered the 11-month-old in a critical condition, suffering from severe injuries, and he was immediately rushed to Maimonides Medical Center. However, the baby was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
The police officers did not make an arrest on the spot, but after the tragedy, an investigation was swiftly launched. The focus was on understanding how such a radiator steam burn could occur in a seemingly safe home environment.
The record shows that the New York Police Department requested an inspection at the building due to a faulty radiator causing steam to fill the bedroom, a "corroded" radiator pipe, and damage to the building's infrastructure, according to the city's Department of Buildings.
With the apartment still under police jurisdiction, the full scope of the inspection remains pending, adding to the growing urgency for clear answers and actionable solutions.
New York City Radiator Safety Concerns
The recent death of the infant, who was only 11 months old, shocked their community and neighbors.
The cause of death from the radiator steam burn, now brings a new spotlight to the safety precautions parents, tenants, and building managers need to consider to avoid fatal incidents like this from happening again.
A neighbor, Tabriz Negmatov, stated that they see the tenants and the baby everyday and admits he is deeply saddened by what happened.
One neighbor in the building admitted to the new reporters that the building does indeed get too hot sometimes, although another neighbor said he could not notice.
Furthermore, the New York City Department of Buildings released a cease order on the building's boiler and demanded urgent repairs to the malfunctioning radiator.
Additionally, a partial vacate order was placed on the affected apartment. These steps reflect the city's immediate response to the tragedy, yet they also highlight the broader implications for New York City's housing safety standards.
The recent radiator steam burn incident is not an isolated case in New York City's history. In December 2016, a similar tragedy unfolded when two sisters, aged one and two, suffered fatal injuries in an apartment steam burn incident.
Their deaths led to a lawsuit against the city and the building's management, resulting in a significant settlement.
This parallel has raised questions about the efficacy of the measures taken since then to address New York City radiator safety concerns.
The tragic loss of an 11-month-old in an NYC apartment due to a radiator steam burn is not just a singular event but a stark reminder of the need for comprehensive safety regulations and vigilant maintenance of residential heating systems.
