What to Expect If Someone at McIntosh County Jail Needs Emergency Medical Care

McIntosh County EMS follows a simple rule for emergency transports: they take the patient to the most appropriate facility for their condition, not automatically to Savannah. This can be frustrating if your loved one has doctors in Savannah. But in an emergency, the priority is getting them to a hospital that can accept them and treat the immediate problem.

Savannah hospitals sometimes go on "diversion," meaning they stop accepting ambulance patients for minor complaints - things like not feeling well for a few days, a twisted ankle, or other non-critical issues. When that happens, an ambulance crew can't count on handing off care quickly once they arrive. This has been happening more frequently in recent months.

This ties directly to the county's transport policy. If Savannah hospitals aren't accepting certain patients, EMS will follow the "most appropriate facility" approach and head somewhere else rather than waste valuable time. For families, this means the hospital destination can shift based on which facilities are accepting patients and what fits the medical situation right then.

Where an ambulance goes affects how fast McIntosh County can respond to the next emergency. A Savannah run can take an ambulance out of service for hours - sometimes with the patient still on the stretcher in a hallway - while waiting for a hospital bed. During that time, the county's other ambulance has to cover everything. If that second unit is already on a call, there may be no ambulance immediately available for new emergencies.

• ✓ Brunswick: the ambulance can be back in McIntosh County and ready for another call in about 14 minutes (not counting traffic or hospital wait/acceptance time).
• ✓ Savannah: getting back can take about 30 minutes (not counting traffic or hospital wait/acceptance time).

If your loved one at McIntosh County Jail needs emergency medical care, expect the transport destination to be based on what EMS considers most appropriate - not on a standing preference for Savannah. In practice, this often means Brunswick. You may hear that crews won't go to Savannah. That decision comes down to how the county manages emergency response and which hospitals are able to accept patients.

Delays happen, especially when a destination hospital is crowded. The county has specifically warned that Savannah transports can tie up an ambulance for hours while waiting for a bed - and that's before factoring in traffic or hospital acceptance issues. For families, this can mean longer gaps before you get clear updates. It also explains why EMS may choose a closer option when one is available.

1. Focus on the medical handoff first - the destination is chosen based on what’s most appropriate for the condition, and it may be Brunswick rather than Savannah.
2. Be prepared for a destination you didn’t expect - McIntosh County specifically asks for understanding if the ambulance crew says they can’t go to Savannah.
3. Document what you know right away - write down the date/time you heard there was an emergency and any details you were given so you can ask clear follow-up questions.

1. Call the McIntosh County Office of the Sheriff (or the jail) - ask where the person was transported and whether there’s any update that can be shared.
2. If you don’t reach the right person, call back and ask who handles medical-transport questions - you’re trying to confirm the destination facility and the timing.
3. Rely on phone confirmation when you can - the Sheriff’s Office website is undergoing updates, and the office directs the public to contact them with questions or concerns.

• ✓ The incarcerated person’s full name
• ✓ The date and approximate time you believe the medical emergency happened
• ✓ Any details you were told about symptoms or the reason for transport (even brief)
• ✓ The key question you need answered: which facility was considered the most appropriate destination for that situation