By VICKI BROWN
Colleton County Council met on Tuesday, April 12, for their regularly scheduled monthly meeting in County Council Chambers at the Old Jail Building.
During this meeting, Colleton County Fire-Rescue was congratulated for receiving the South Carolina EMS System of the Year Award. Commissioner LaVerne Polk of Islandton was present, along with Chief Barry McRoy, who remarked on how grateful the department was to receive this recognition.
“This award spans two and a half years of work that was completed by our department. We are a comparatively small, rural department and have to transport patients to Charleston for more serious injuries. This takes an hour, and sometimes, patients don’t have an hour. We have to fly people out on occasion by helicopter, but one isn’t always available. So, our people have been trained to carry blood,” said McRoy, referring to a program designed by CCFR that now allows medical personnel to carry blood aboard ambulances and rescue vehicles. Initiated in Colleton County, this program is now being adopted statewide by other rescue organizations.
“Winning this award was a huge team effort by everyone involved with the department. We met many stipulations and had to get support from doctors, DHEC and Prisma Health.
“We did submit our information about the project this year and were selected,” he said.
Through the efforts of Colleton County Fire-Rescue, this project is now available statewide for any system to adopt. Dr. Flowers, local physician and council member, was delighted with the outcome. “This is a lifesaving thing you are able to do. This blood is vital. I am so happy we are doing this,” said Flowers.
Fire-Rescue firemen were also honored by the council for their efforts in trying to save a woman trapped inside a recent house fire that occurred on Gadsden Loop.
A victim in the house fire died and two firemen were burned while trying to save her: they were caught in a flash fire.
“It’s hard to see what is going on inside a house on fire. In this particular incident, there was a flash fire. This is when a room flashes over, blowing up with fire,” McRoy said. “Two firefighters received burns but were saved.”
According to McRoy, the department was complemented by the state for the indepth training program that the firefighters go through. The safety programs have scenarios where firefighters are given examples of situations where firefighters have lost their lives. One of the scenarios was identical to what the two firefighters experienced at the Gadsden Loop fire. “Had they not been prepared, we would have had a firefighter fatality,” said McRoy.
This is the second statewide award this department has received: Dr. David Green with Colleton County Fire-Rescue received EMS Director of the Year from South Carolina Emergency Management Association in March 2020.
In other county council news:
Council members passed two proclamations in memory of residents who recently died. Colleton County Council proclaimed September 22, 2022 as “Gregory Kinsey Day,” in appreciation for his service to the many adolescents of Colleton County. “Coach Kinsey” was an administrator with the Colleton County School District, working as a coach, teacher, and administrator.
Another proclamation was passed in memory of Patrick Thomas expressing appreciation for his service to Colleton County residents as a veteran teacher, mentor, community servant and coach.
The new county Web site is finished – www.colletoncounty.org. Residents can find forms online and can even apply for boards online.
The council passed Resolution 22-R- 22 to Declare April Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Council also passed Resolution 22-R-14 to declare April as Fair Housing Month in Colleton County.
Council accepted the grant for the Colleton County Summer Feeding Program for 2022.
Authorization was given for a five-year sole source purchasing arrangement for Kenworth trucks.
Approval was given for the submittal of a grant application for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) FY 2021 Award for the purchase of bulletproof vests for county deputies. (See related story in this issue.)
