Tag Archives: beach access

DHEC in the News: Opioids, beach access, the dangers of carbon monoxide

Here’s a look at health and environmental news from around South Carolina.

Opioid use by S.C. Medicaid recipients is down due to drug monitoring program, report says

The state’s prescription drug monitoring program is showing promising results in reducing opioid prescriptions written in South Carolina, according to a new University of South Carolina report.

USC researchers were contracted by the Department of Health and Human Services to analyze the effect of the state’s prescription drug monitoring program on Medicaid recipients’ opioid use.

Surfside Beach offering greater beach access to all

Surfing is a popular pastime in the town of Surfside Beach.

And now the town is working to make a prime surf spot more accessible for all visitors and residents who are disabled.

Preventable deaths: A Rock Hill woman’s mission to educate the public on dangers of carbon monoxide

It began with an upset stomach.

Jeannie Williams was in the bathroom in a Best Western hotel in Boone, N.C., where she and her 11-year-old son, Jeffrey, had checked in for the night. Jeffrey had finished showering and was already in bed. It was Jeannie’s turn to get ready for the night. It was supposed to be a short, overnight trip, and the two weren’t far from their home in Rock Hill.

But something had gone terribly wrong. The mother and her son didn’t know that carbon monoxide — a deadly, odorless, colorless, tasteless gas — was seeping into their room from a pool water heater one floor below.

Going Coastal

By Cassandra Harris
going_coastal

Summer is finally here, and for many of us it means heading to the coast to spend some much needed fun in the sun and surf. DHEC wants to help you stay prepared and informed this summer.

Before you take off for the shores, check out some of our latest coastal apps:

Beach Access: Connecting S.C. beachgoers to over 620 public access points along our coast, the Beach Access app provides visitors with key information about a location’s amenities, including parking, restrooms, handicap accessibility, showers and more.
MarinaMate: In addition to listing marina locations statewide, the MarinaMate app provides mariners with information on available services, including where you can access shore power hookups and dispose of on-board sewage.
MyCoast: South Carolina: Used to visualize the impact of coastal hazards and to enhance awareness among decision-makers and stakeholders, MyCoast is a portal citizens can use to assist DHEC in the collection and analysis of pictures and data relating to coastal events, including King Tides and coastal storms.
South Carolina Beachfront Jurisdiction And Adopted Erosion Rates: Providing easily accessible information to current and prospective property owners, the S.C. Beachfront Jurisdiction app offers an overview of beachfront jurisdictional lines, beach zones and adopted erosion rates on a variety of base maps. It also provides users with access to survey packets by specific beach area, which contain specific line coordinates, survey monument locations and additional background information.

Life is a beach

By Jim Beasley

With beachgoing season quickly approaching, wouldn’t it be great if someone would develop an online app that would show you the best places to park to access your favorite public beach? Or maybe show you the closest public restrooms or showers? Maybe you need to find a way to reach the beach with wheelchair access.

Actually, such an app already exists — and it’s ready to help you better enjoy your trip to South Carolina’s beautiful coastline.

Just go to http://gis.dhec.sc.gov/beachaccess/.

This useful app from DHEC’s Division of Ocean & Coastal Resource Management can help you find the right amenities needed to help you plan your next fun-in-the-sun trip.

Let’s say you want to go to Isle of Palms. Just choose the beach from the list, and then search for the requested conveniences. A map will appear showing you the amenity you need and where to find it. It also helps you navigate from your current location to the best access point.

Whether it’s public transit, seasonal lifeguards, trash receptacles or a beach park for an oceanside picnic, this app enables you to find the right spot.

The app is readily available on your desktop. But it’s even more helpful from your smartphone, so be sure to bookmark it or add the icon to your home screen for your next trip to the beach.