01/07/2012 – Traumatic Injuries with Air Evacuation – “C” Shift

Incident # 12-00152 – On Saturday evening 7-Janaury at 18:45, an adult Hispanic male received multiple traumatic injuries after he jumped from a moving vehicle on Interstate 95 near the 60 mile marker southbound. Engine 26 and Medic 26 found the patient semi-conscious, lying on the shoulder of the highway. They alerted the medical helicopter Lifenet 4, stationed at Colleton Medical Center and began treating the patient. Due to the short transport time, the decision was made to meet the helicopter at their base. The patient was immobilized, given IVs and rapidly transported to the Colleton Medical Center and transferred to the helicopter. He was loaded into the A-Star without incident and the crew lifted off for the Trauma Center at MUSC in Charleston. Approximately five minutes into the flight, the patient became combative, broke the immobilization straps on the backboard and began fighting with the flight crew. The pilot turned around and made an emergency landing at Lowcountry Regional Airport east of Walterboro. Four Deputies, two Fire-Rescue Medic Units, Engine 19, Battalion 1 and Car 12 rushed to the airport to assist the crew. 

The helicopter was able to safely land, with the emergency forces ready to restrain the patient. He was immobilized into a Reeves Sleeve, placed into Medic 26 and the Flight Crew accompanied Medic 26’s crew for a ground transport to MUSC in Charleston. Enroute to the Trauma Center, the patient’s condition deteriorated, requiring the flight crew to RSI the patient. He was later admitted to the ICU at MUSC.

Engine 26, Medic 26, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded to the original incident location. Firefighter-Paramedic Pat Powell served as Incident Commander.

Engine 19, Medic 1, Medic 26, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded to the Lowcountry Regional Airport.