16/May/2020 – Burn Patient with Air Evac – “C” Shift

Incident # 20-03227 – A 71 yr. old Ruffin woman was flown to the Burn Center in Augusta Saturday afternoon 16-May. At 15:25, Fire-Rescue was dispatched to a residence in the 7000 block of Bells Highway for a patient with burns to her face. On arrival, Firefighter-Paramedics found the patient with severe burns to her face and airway. She was experiencing difficulty breathing. She advised the crew that she had been smoking while on home oxygen and the fire ignited burning her face. Crews performed advanced airway care to secure her airway and requested a medical helicopter to fly her to the Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta Ga. A second Fire-Rescue ambulance also responded to assist with her care. The CARE Flight helicopter was returning from another response, so Medic 18 transported the patient emergent to the Lowcountry Regional Airport to meet the helicopter. Additional Firefighter-Paramedics were onboard providing patient care. The patient was transferred to the Flight Crew and the patient was flown to Augusta. This is the second incidence where a patient received facial and airway burns as a result of smoking while on home oxygen within the last couple of months in Colleton County. Smoking around medical oxygen is a dangerous practice. Residents are advised to avoid smoking, but should never have flammable items such as cigarettes near home oxygen devices, cannulas, tanks or oxygen generators due to the explosion hazard.  

Engine 26, Medic 18, Medic 26, Battalion 1 and Car 112 responded. Captain John Schneider served as Incident Commander.