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COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
State is drawing a line in the sand
This beachfront home on Harbor Island was one of several that were severely damaged during Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. Photo by Bob Sofaly.
By Amy Rigard After finding a simulated gunshot wound, Lt. Daniel Byrne of the Burton Fire District applies a Jacob Kit peeland-stick patch over a wound to control bleeding during a demonstration at Port Royal Elementary School. Byrne, of the Burton Fire District, used his 10-year-old son Nathan as a victim to show other fifth-graders at Port Royal Elementary School how to stop another person’s bleeding. Photo by Bob Sofaly.
STOP THE BLEED program spurred by shootings By Amy Rigard
Every second counts. That is especially true when tragedies such as the recent shootings in Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs, Texas, happen. In those seconds and minutes between when tragedy strikes and when first responders arrive on the scene, bystanders can play a critical role in saving someone’s life by stopping the bleeding. Numerous media outlets reported on good Samaritans who helped others after the Las Vegas shooting by applying pressure to their wounds and creating makeshift tourniquets. Those bystanders saved lives. And it’s the hope of Lt. Daniel Byrne, of the Burton Fire District, that trauma kits and training to “stop the bleed” could help save the lives should an emergency, such as a school shooting occur. The idea for the trauma kits and training was borne out of another tragic event: the shooting and death of 6-year-old Townville, S.C., elementary school student, Jacob Hall in 2016. Byrne’s wife, Angela, a school teacher for 26 years, asked her husband what she could have done to help Jacob if he had been one of her students. While Beaufort County schools have emergency preparedness plans in place and have conducted active shooter drills, those seconds and minutes be-
tween a trauma and the arrival of first responders is critical. “No matter how quickly we receive the call or how fast and efficient our response and arrival is, there will be a delay between the time a child is injured and when a paramedic arrives to treat them,” said Byrne. The question became: How could they help close that gap and help stop the loss of blood among victims? The Burton Fire District approached Broad River Elementary School, where Angela Byrne teaches, with the idea for a pilot program of Jacob’s Kit. The goal is to train teachers, but students are also learning how to use the kit to “stop the bleed.” The kits contain a tourniquet, which studies have found to be the best and easiest to use to control bleeding, chest seals – adhesives for chest wounds, bandages, medical gloves and trauma sheers to cut clothing. According to the Department of Homeland Security, a person who is bleeding can die from blood loss within five minutes. For a small child, that amount of time is shorter due to a lower blood volume. Shortly following the events at Sandy Hook
“I would encourage everyone to get the training. You can save a life.”
See PROGRAM, page A6
DEALING WITH GRIEF A BMH bereavement group is a lifeline for parents who have lost a child.
2017
CHRISTMAS
GIFT GUIDE
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The state of South Carolina is in the process of redrawing lines that restrict how close homes can be built to vulnerable beachfront shorelines and dune systems. That process has caused some concern among beachfront homeowners, particularly those hit hard by recent hurricanes. They worry that the new lines could prevent them from rebuilding their homes. However, in an effort to get more feedback, the state has extended the public comment period. The final lines were originally scheduled to be announced Dec. 8. South Carolina residents now have until April 6, 2018, to submit public comments on the Department of Health and Environmental Control’s (DHEC) newly proposed beachfront jurisdictional lines. DHEC will adopt final beachfront jurisdictional lines in May 2018 and will publish all final revised lines by Dec. 31, 2018. In October, U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford, R-SC, echoed the concerns of many residents in a letter he sent to DHEC Director Myra Reece asking the department to delay the implementation of the new lines. He noted that many Lowcountry residents were still dealing with the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irma and Hurricane Matthew and had a shortened comment period. The statement read, “For regulations to be fair and meaningful, they must judiciously balance public and private interests. I don’t believe that the current roll-out of beachfront jurisdic-
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tional lines passes this test. “In that regard, I join with many of my constituents in asking for a one-year delay in the implementation of these proposed lines.” According to DHEC Director of Media Relations Tim Kelly, “Based on the feedback received during the original 30-day comment period, DHEC feels it is appropriate to give property owners and other interested parties more time to meet with department staff, understand the methodology used to set the jurisdictional lines and bring the department any additional information for consideration.” The redrawing of beach jurisdictional lines restricts how close someone can build to vulnerable beachfront shorelines and the dune system and is required by the Beachfront Management Act of 1988. DHEC establishes two lines – the baseline, or the more seaward line, and the setback line, the more landward line – to guide shoreline development. The lines, which must be re-surveyed every seven to 10 years, are based on long-term erosion patterns along the shore. Don Woelke, general manager at Harbor Island, hopes DHEC delays the implementation of those lines by one or two years. He worries that the new lines could negatively impact property values, new construction and the repair of storm-damaged homes within the 1,400acre gated community about 15 miles east of Beaufort. The current proposed lines were surveyed before miles of See SAND, page A6