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Paramedics treated a man for burns to about 20 percent of his body after a workplace incident this morning.
Paramedics were called to a medical practice at Mansfield just after 9am and were told that the patient had driven there from where he was burnt at Bonnie Doon.
Given the extent, and location of the man’s burns, an air ambulance helicopter was also dispatched.
Intensive care flight paramedic Jason Hunter said that when they arrived they found the 31-year-old being cared for by doctors and other staff at the medical centre.
‘The man’s burns had been dressed and the first paramedics on scene had given the man fluids through a drip to rehydrate him as well as pain relief to make him more comfortable.
‘He suffered partial thickness burns to the front and back sections of his lower legs, his right forearm and a small section of his left forearm.
‘We were told that he was working as a plumber when somehow gas ignited, resulting in a small explosion.
‘The area that he was working in was apparently small and we were told that the intensity of the heat actually melted plastic in the room.
‘Our biggest concern was for his airway. His lips were swollen which can be a symptom of a burnt airway. Burns to an airway can cause it to swell and cut off a patient’s ability to breathe.
‘With that in mind, and our distance to hospital, we decided to place him into an induced coma so that a breathing tube could be inserted to secure his airway and ensure that he got enough oxygen.
‘He was then flown to the Alfred Hospital in a serious but stable condition,’ Mr Hunter said.
ENDS