To the Editor: In November 2008, a residential balcony collapse in Brisbane, Queensland, resulted in one person killed and 25 injured.1 Moments after the accident, tertiary hospitals across the city were placed on alert. Valuable hospital resources, including intensive care beds and staff, were allocated to the care of potential casualties; surgical theatres were kept on standby; and elective operating lists were cancelled.
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- 1 Royal Children’s Hospital, Brisbane, QLD.
- 2 Kidsafe Queensland, Brisbane, QLD.
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- 2. Thirteen injured in balcony collapse. Sydney Morning Herald 2008; 2 Mar. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/03/01/1204227057488.html (accessed Jan 2009).
- 3. Tan L. Balcony collapse spurs call for safety checks. New Zealand Herald (Auckland) 2008; 11 Feb. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10491708 (accessed Jan 2009).
- 4. Building Commission, Victoria. What you need to know about maintenance of balconies. Melbourne: Building Commission, 2006. http://www.buildingcommission.com.au/resources/documents/12894_BC_Maint_Balconies.pdf (accessed Jan 2009).
- 5. Australian Concrete Repair Association. ACRA presses for “balcony bill” following collapse. Corrosion Management 2002; May: 12. http://www.corrosion.com.au/documents/0000/0726/Raining_Balconies.pdf (accessed Jan 2009).
- 6. New Zealand Department of Conservation. Commission of inquiry Cave Creek report. Wellington: DOC, 1995. http://www.doc.govt.nz/publications/about-doc/news/issues/commission-of-inquiry-cave-creek-report (accessed Jan 2009).