Wheeling worker hospitialized after accident

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A worker at a Wheeling factory was flown by helicopter to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge after his hand was caught in a machine.

Wheeling fire Battalion Chief Mark Menzel said firefighters were dispatched to Crescent Cardboard Co., 100 W. Willow Road, near the intersection of Willow and Wolf Road, in Wheeling at 8:09 p.m. Thursday.

Menzel said a worker at the factory, described as a man in approximately his early 30s, was working with an industrial roller, when his hand became entangled in the machinery.

Both the Wheeling and Prospect Heights departments worked extrication equipment and the plant employees to disassemble the machine and detach the hand from the equipment.

Menzel said there was a similar machine on the premises that gave rescue workers ideas on how to release the pressure on the machine.

The entire extrication operation took approximately an hour.

The man was flown by Flight for Life to the hospital at about 9:30 p.m. with a crush injury to his left hand.

Firefighters were assisted by Wheeling police, as well as Lincolnshire firefighters, who assisted with station coverage, and Mount Prospect firefighters, who assisted with Flight for Life.

There were no injuries to emergency personnel.

Menzel described the operation as a unique extrication for the department.

Efforts to contact Crescent Cardboard for comment were unsuccessful.