Fairfield County EMS Blazes Trail with Adoption of New Lifesaving Tech | |
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Paramedics and EMTs have a lot to focus on when treating patients. Heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature are just a few of the vital signs they need to monitor to stabilize patients and report to receiving hospitals. They do all this while also performing lifesaving procedures, administering medication and communicating with hospital staff. First responders in Fairfield County now have a tool to better aid them in their duties.
All emergency response units in the county have been outfitted with new state-of-the-art Stryker LifePak 35 monitors. According to Fairfield County EMS Chief Tim Martin, the 14 new units will take the guesswork out of the calculations EMTs and paramedics must make while treating patients in the field and will allow first responders to make better clinical decisions in less time.
“This is a technology that we have not seen before in a pre-hospital setting,” Martin said. “Before, we had to manually interpret that. This system here allows us not only to see what the heart is doing, it gives us a graph of where in the heart the damage is occurring.”
Learn how this new tech will allow EMTs and paramedics to make better clinical decisions in the field.
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Counties Shine Light on Military Veterans | |
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Many counties across South Carolina showed support and appreciation for our nation's military veterans during special events this month.
Some counties also participated in Operation Greenlight, a national initiative that shows support for veterans by lighting public buildings in green.
(Photos above and right: Fairfield County's Veterans Day Luncheon. Photos below from left: Pickens County, Richland County and Dorchester County)
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2025 SCAC Scholarship Program Now Open | |
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High school seniors in 13 counties can now apply for one-time college scholarships to be awarded in 2025.
Each year, SCAC's Presidential Scholarship Program awards one $5,000 scholarship to a graduating high school senior who is a resident of the same county as the SCAC President. The 2025 Presidential Scholarship will be awarded to an Allendale County resident in honor of SCAC President and Allendale County Council Vice Chairman William E. Robinson.
A graduating senior from each of the following counties will be selected to receive a $5,000 Board of Director's scholarship: Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Charleston, Chester, Edgefield, Hampton, Lee, Sumter, Union, York. Learn more about how to apply via our scholarships page.
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Charleston County Receives Recognition for Outstanding Financial Management | |
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Charleston County has maintained its esteemed AAA bond rating, the highest possible rating, as affirmed by three of the world’s leading bond ratings agencies, Moody’s Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings.
Additionally, Charleston County has been awarded the Government Finance Officers Association’s (GFOA) prestigious Triple Crown distinction for its outstanding achievements in three financial categories: Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award and Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.
This is the 13th consecutive year Charleston County has received AAA bond ratings from each of the three ratings agencies. Additionally, Charleston County has won the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting 36 years in a row, the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award 35 years in a row and the Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award five years in a row.
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Richland County Detention Center Boosts Security with New Mail-Screening Tech | |
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New technology is giving Richland County’s Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center (ASGDC) an extra layer of security to combat illegal contraband while also ensuring the safety of staff.
The detention center recently introduced MailSecur screening equipment, which scans inmates’ incoming mail for contraband without opening envelopes or packages. The county invested in the equipment in response to reports of inmates concealing illicit drugs or contraband in postal mail. ASGDC is the state’s first detention facility to integrate MailSecur into its operations.
The MailSecur screener can quickly detect paper that is treated with chemicals, providing a visualization of mailed materials and video documentation of the screening process. For detention center staff, having the screener’s result before opening the letter or package eliminates the risk of accidental exposure to drugs or chemicals.
“Contraband is coming through legal mail, it’s coming through standardized mail, and the detainees understand that, so they’re using those avenues to continue with their criminal behavior,” said Crayman Harvey, ASGDC director.
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Legislative Conference Hotel Deadline Nov. 20 | |
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The deadline to reserve a hotel room for the 2024 SCAC Legislative Conference in Greenville is Wednesday, Nov. 20.
During the conference, the association's Legislative Committee will vote on the official policy positions for 2025. Council members and county officials not on the Legislative Committee are invited to take part in the educations sessions Dec. 5 and 6 and attend as non-voting members. The agenda includes a visit to the Greenville County Administration Building and updates on Hurricane Helene recovery.
Visit the SCAC website for more information and to register.
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Registration is Open for Orientation for Newly Elected County Council Members | |
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SCAC will host the Orientation for Newly Elected Council Members from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, at the DoubleTree Hotel at 2100 Bush River Road in Columbia.
This orientation is free and open to those who have recently been elected to serve on county council. This session is designed to provide an overview of the roles and responsibilities of county officials and SCAC’s programs and services.
Participants will learn about the state ethics act, the Freedom of Information Act and county risk management and liabilities. Participants who complete the day-long orientation will receive six credit hours toward their Level I certification in the Institute of Government for County Officials.
Learn more and register your county's newly elected council members online.
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Counties and Councils of Governments May Now Participate in SC Housing Trust Fund | |
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SC Housing announced that municipalities, municipal associations, counties and councils of governments are now eligible to participate as sponsors in the South Carolina Housing Trust Fund (SC HTF). The SC HTF is a valuable resource for maintaining safe, quality affordable housing via two core programs: Critical Home Repair and Home Repair Program.
The Critical Home Repair and Home Repair Programs are targeted to homeowners who fall at or below 80% of area median income (AMI) and can fund essential home repairs up to $30,000 and $75,000 respectively. Sponsors are eligible for development fees up to 15% of the project costs.
In addition, SC HTF in late October announced the Disaster Assistance Program to address housing recovery needs resulting from recent natural disasters affecting South Carolina. The program will be available to local governments providing up to $30,000 per home for disaster-related repairs. Eligible homeowners must be at 80% AMI or below.
For more information, contact Housing Trust Fund Manager Jack Suber or call (803) 896-0808.
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$58 Million Available for EPA Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants | |
State Library offers grant writing webinar | |
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The State Library is offering a webinar “Grant Writing: Creating a Winning Proposal" on Dec. 11. The webinar is free but registration is required.
Visit the State Library website for more details and registration. Questions? Contact Dawn Mullin at dmullin@statelibrary.sc.gov.
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Don't miss the digital edition of our Fall 2024 County Focus magazine.
In this issue, we examine AI and tech trends in local government.
Plus, hear from our new SCAC President and Allendale County Council Vice Chairman Bill Robinson.
https://bit.ly/CFFall2024
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SCAC is proud to announce Chandler Davis has joined our team as our newest risk manager!
He brings 18+ years of risk management experience to the SC Counties Insurance Trusts and is looking forward to putting that expertise to work for our counties.
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We continue our Board of Directors spotlight series by introducing you to SCAC Third Vice President and Calhoun County Councilman Cecil Thornton.
Learn more about Cecil over on LinkedIn.
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(803) 252-7255
PO Box 8207
Columbia SC 29202-8207
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