DHEC offers new communication tool for emergency professionals

Image: Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC)

Image: Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC)

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)– The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and local partners have developed a new resource to help nonverbal, neurodivergent and non-English speaking people better communicate with first responders during emergency situations, says DHEC.

DHEC’s South Carolina EMS for Children (SCEMSC) program is distributing medical communication cards to paramedics, medical professionals, firefighters and police officers around the state.

The communication cards are a tool for emergency personnel and their patients to communicate with each other using visual imagery.

Also, the cards are designed to help children and families, especially non-English-speaking or nonverbal patients.

DHEC said Greenville residents Jacqueline and Scott Stoller were apart of the development of the medical communications card, who happens to be parents of a nonverbal kid.

“Although this particular resource is new, we’ve been working on it for years. The effort started before COVID but got put on the back burner. When our daughter was young, we used a lot of picture symbols to communicate with her. Having autism and being pretty much nonverbal made it difficult to interact daily with her – during times of crisis, it became more difficult,” said Jacqueline Stoller, who works as a nursing instructor.

The medical communication cards have been distributed widely in the Stollers’ community and at various emergency professional conferences through SCEMSC.

DHEC said the goal is to make the cards available for any emergency professional in the state. Providers can access the cards online or request a physical set by contacting SCEMSC.

“Everyone deserves the opportunity to communicate and express themselves as best they can,” Scott and Jacqueline Stoller said.