High Tech Disaster: Local MRI Malfunction is My Worst Nightmare

An MRI malfunction led to reports of an explosions at a medical building in Westchester County, NY and a multi-vehicle response from local firefighters. It also sounds like something pulled out of my worst nightmare.

Spending time in an MRI machine can be hard for anybody. The small space, the loud noises, and the giant magnets that require patients to go through a low-grade TSA screening before being strapped in all add up to be quite stressful. The additional knowledge that a machine can malfunction to the extent of the one in Westchester is just unnerving.

MRI Malfunction in Westchester County, NY

"The department was dispatched to Hawthorne alongside a Tower Ladder from Thornwood to a report of an explosion", began a recent post from the Valhalla Fire Department (VFD). Something that looked like smoke was pouring out of the building, leading many to report the incident as an explosion.

Helium Vapor Causes Reports of an Explosion in Hawthorne, NY

"Interior crews checked the MRI area, where the explosion was reported", the VFD continued. "It was determined that one of the MRI machines malfunctioned which caused the system to neutralize the magnetic field by dumping helium. The helium was vented out through the roof unit which was the 'smoke' that bystanders reported." In what may come as a surprise to many, helium is essential in the operation of these complex machines.

Helium in MRI Machines

Helium is not only one of the rarest natural resources on the planet, but its liquid form is the coldest as well. Liquid helium is used as a cooling agent for the massive magnets that make an MRI machine work. Releasing the helium may have been necessary to correct the malfunction, but it was also potentially a very costly move, as liquid helium is becoming harder and harder to obtain.

Helium Shortage for Medical Professionals and Researchers

Helium is an element that is consumed far faster than it can be produced, since its creation occurs through radioactive decay. Additionally, the halt of production at numerous international facilities has led to more complications. "Some academic research labs were forced to temporarily shut down, [and] other labs had to pay a 30% premium for helium" in 2022, according to the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

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From MRI malfunctions to pets stuck deep in rocky crevasses, first responders are always staying busy in the Hudson Valley. Check out the adorable rescue at Minnewaska State Park below, and keep scrolling to see the daring extraction that required a helicopter.