Grand Strand Medical Center’s injury prevention programs provide education, training and safety equipment for community members of all ages to increase awareness and decrease the number of trauma-related injuries and deaths in our community.

Contact our Injury Prevention and Outreach Coordinator: janet.werst@hcahealthcare.com or call (843) 692‑4987

Programs

Child Passenger Safety

Motor Vehicle crashes are a leading cause of injury and death to children. Proper use of a car seat can reduce the risk of injury by 71-82% compared to a seat belt alone. Yet, in South Carolina, roughly 79% of families are using their car seat incorrectly. Our programs educate parents and caregivers on proper use to help them correctly and confidently transport their child.

  • Car seat consultations: a 30-minute appointment with a nationally certified child passenger safety technician to help you learn how to properly install your car seat in your vehicle and your child in the car seat. We also have a technician trained on how to transport children with special healthcare needs should you need it.
  • Education and Distribution classes: for families who are unable to purchase a new, safe car seat on their own, we offer car seat classes that provide an appropriate car seat for the child’s age, weight, and height of the child. A $30 donation is requested to be given to the Safe Kids Pee Dee/Coastal Coalition.

Be SMART

Be SMART is a program developed by Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund to bring together parents and adults concerned about kids, guns, and safety. A free 1-hour presentation on safe gun storage and how to talk to kids, family, and friends about gun safety.

Stop the Bleed®

Stop the Bleed ® is an international program that teaches people how to recognize life threatening bleeding, pack a wound, apply pressure, and apply a tourniquet. Classes are free and are open to anyone age 12 and up. Classes last 1 hour. We come to workplaces, churches, schools, and community centers to offer this class to you and the community.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Interactive Display

A Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI is caused by a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. Children who experience TBI (like a concussion) can cause affect a child’s brain development that can change their ability to process language, sleep, eat, be in social situations, and more.

Grand Stand Medical Center has an interactive display geared toward elementary-school children to understand how the brain works to allow us to experience our senses and what could happen if they experience a TBI. A space of approximately 30’ x 15’ is needed for set up (primarily table space).

QPR (Questions, Persuade, Refer) Suicide Prevention

The QPR Gatekeeper program is a 1-hour course designed to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training.

Older Adult Falls

One in four adults over the age of 65 will fall this year. Falls are the #1 trauma admission at Grand Strand Medical Center and can cause a loss of independence and confidence. To decrease fear and increase strength, we are able to provide multiple fall prevention programs to support our community members. Programs include:

  • Balance Screening: a 20-minute screening with a physical therapist to assess fall risk and give recommendations to decrease your fall risk.
  • File of Life: a refrigerator magnet to keep a list of medications, health issues, allergies, and emergency contacts so EMS and hospital staff can treat you appropriately for your medical issue.
  • Fall Prevention Presentation: a 30-minute group presentation on things you can do in your home to reduce your risk of falling.
  • Stepping on: an evidence-based, community-based fall prevention program. For two hours, once a week for seven weeks, you will meet with other community members and the facilitators to discuss ways to prevent falls while learning balance and strength exercises. Guest experts, including a physical therapist, vision expert, and pharmacist will also provide tips to reduce your fall risk.

Older Adult Driving Safety

Older drivers are some of the safest drivers on the road due to experience and use of seat belts. However, older drivers are more likely to be killed or seriously injured when a crash does occur due to greater fragility of their aging bodies. To help reduce this risk we offer:

  • CarFit: a 30-minute appointment with a CarFit technician to go over a 12-point safety checklist to look at the fit of the person within your vehicle. Together we will check your mirror positioning, seat belt fit, steering wheel distance, and more. A referral to an occupational therapist may be given to discuss adaptive devices and safe driving.