An adult man was seriously injured with burns following an accident at his home on Berea Road northwest of Smoaks Friday evening April 17 at 10:14.
The man, who is on oxygen, was attempting to light an item on fire in his home when the oxygen caused a flash fire, exploding in his face. The man received first- and second-degree burns to his face and airway and a small fire occurred on the floor of the home, which the man extinguished before firefighter-paramedics arrived.
In addition to his burns, the man was experiencing difficulty breathing. Crews requested a medical helicopter to fly the man to the Burn Center in Augusta, Ga. Firefighter-paramedics, stationed in Smoaks, quickly treated the man on the scene, managing his pain and performed advanced airway treatment.
He was rapidly transported by ambulance to the field in front in front of Bells Elementary School where a landing zone was established for the Meducare helicopter. (The CARE Flight helicopter is still on reassignment in Florida assisting with the Covid-19 crisis in that state.)
The patient was flown to the Still Burn Center at Doctor’s Hospital in Augusta.
