05/08/2011 – “B” Shift – MVC with entrapment & Air Evacuation

Incident # 11-002573 - A 35 year old Camden, SC man is in critical condition following a high speed MVC on I-95 at the 50 mile marker northbound. Sunday afternoon 08-May at 17:40, off-duty Firefighter-EMT Joseph Holmes rode up on the accident while the dust was still flying around the scene. The 2003 Chevrolet Suburban left the roadway after a curve, entered the median and struck several trees. The large SUV received heavy damage, trapping the driver in the wreckage. Holmes stopped just north of the accident, radioed in the location and began rendering aid to the victim. He only had access to part of the man’s upper torso and head. The driver’s side doors and dash board had collapsed around the man. He suffered severe multiple traumatic injuries. The man was semi-conscious and had no detectable blood pressure. Holmes radioed to incoming units the patient’s dire condition. A medical helicopter was also dispatched to the scene. After the arrival of Fire-Rescue units, a Firefighter-Paramedic was able to crawl into the damaged vehicle to begin treatment on the man, including IVs to replenish his blood loss.

Other crewmembers used Holmatro Hydraulic Rescue Tools to remove the driver’s side doors. Relief cuts were made in the SUV’s body before Hydraulic Rams were used to displace the dashboard off of the driver. With the patient freed, the severity of his injuries were now apparent. Crewmembers went to work splinting his broken limbs, bandaging the many open wounds and administering pain medications. He was moved to an Medic 1 to wait on the arrival of the helicopter. Omniflight-Lifestar from Savannah arrived about 10 minutes later making a scene landing. The man was transferred to the helicopter, then flown to the Trauma Center at Memorial Medical Center in Savannah Georgia. Northbound traffic on I-95 was backed up for several miles after being shut down to one lane for about an hour and completely stopped for 15 minutes while the helicopter was on the ground. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Engine 1, Medic 1, Rescue 1 and Battalion 1 responded. Firefighter-EMT Joseph Holmes served as Incident Commander.