Four boys who were safely brought out of Luang Cave late yesterday evening have yet to be reunited with their families, though are expected to meet family members this evening once doctors are done running a series of tests.
The four boys were the first batch to make it safely out of the cave where they, eight other “Wild Boar” soccer club teammates and their young coach have been trapped for more than two weeks.
Extraction operations are ostensibly continuing today though as of press time, no new information has been provided since a late-night press conference yesterday.
Dr. Thongchai Lertwilairattanapong, an inspector for Thailand’s Health Department, said the four boys are being treated in a cohort ward at Prachanukroh Hospital, about 60 kilometers from the cave site.
“If the doctors conclude that they’re in good health — normal blood pressure, normal breathing, and no infection in the lung. Within 24 hours, they will be allowed to see their family. This depends on the doctor’s assessment,” Dr. Thongchai told Komchadluek today.
As the first two boys came out of the cave at about 5:40pm, that would mean the earliest they can meet their family is tonight.
However, there will be no physical contact until their blood tests have been cleared.
“Visitors will only be allowed to only meet and talk to the patients — no hugging or touching, and they [the family] need to leave a 1-2 meter distance from the patients until the results of their blood tests come out,” Dr. Thongchai said.
While there has been no update on the boys’ health condition or the progress of their treatment, the plan for their health assessment was to check their children’s body temperature and symptoms of dehydration and nutrition deficiency, have their lungs X-rayed, and run a series of blood and urine tests. Doctors will also run other tests they deem appropriate.
The blood tests will determine any infection or presence of other contagious diseases they may have picked up in the cave. The results can be expected within 24 hours after the tests are run.
Doctors will also watch for “refeeding syndrome,” a condition in which patients suffer from metabolic disturbances after a long period of starvation.
Mental health rehabilitation
While the boys are regaining their strength, a team of psychiatrists will be sent to talk to them at the hospital.
After being discharged, the children will be followed up on by doctors from Suan Prung Hospital in Chiang Mai, for one to three months, in order to help them re-adjust to their normal life.
While photos released to the public seem to indicate the children are in good spirits, Dr. Thornnin Kongsuk, director of Suan Prung Hospital, is worried they may have difficulty coping with the newfound attention, which could cause anxiety.
“I’m worried that the media will constantly interview them, and they will always be reminded of this incident in their lives. If the boys and coach view being trapped in a cave as a test of their bravery or an adventure, it will be fine. But if they look at this as torture, their mental health will be negatively affected,” Dr. Thornnin said.
Meanwhile, the government yesterday released media guidelines dictating that the boys only be interviewed in groups and that questions be positive. “How do you take care of each other?” and “What is your survival technique.”
Media are requested to avoid pursuing a one-on-one interview with the boys and ask questions that will cause trauma such as “Why did you go into the cave?” “Were you scared?” “Do you know how hard it was for people to rescue you?” were among those suggested.
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