EMS assists in transport of Imperial Sugar burn victim

An Air-Med helicopter transporting a burn patient involved in the Imperial Sugar explosion made an emergency landing at the Jenkins County Airport Feb. 8. (Photo contributed)

On Friday, Feb. 8, Jenkins County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was called to assist with transport of a burn patient involved in the explosion at Imperial Sugar in Port Wentworth.

The patient had been treated at Memorial Medical Center, Savannah, and was being flown to the Joseph Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital when the Air-Med helicopter transporting him experienced problems with its hydraulic system. The helicopter made an emergency landing at the Jenkins County Airport where the Jenkins County EMS picked up the patient and crew and transported them to the burn unit.

The patient had third degree burns to the head, face, neck, arms and legs. He was one of 18 critically injured victims airlifted to the burn unit that night.