MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) – The Myrtle Beach Fire Department announced it will add Carter Kits to all emergency response vehicles to serve people on the autism spectrum better.
The kits are designed to help first responders communicate with and comfort individuals who may become overstimulated by emergency lights and sirens.
“Some of it is tools that can help us with sensory overload, they may have where they may need some device for their ears, their eyes, for whatever else that’s gonna help them with how they’re processing things at the time,” said Capt. Jonathan Evans of the Myrtle Beach Fire Department.
Each kit includes sensory-friendly items such as headphones, toys, sunglasses, and a weighted blanket.
The kits also contain communication sheets for non-verbal individuals.
“There’s some sheets in there that help us,” Evans said. “If they’re non-verbal, they can kind of point out what’s going on. How they’re feeling, what they may need, all those things, and again it just kind of helps us with that better communication.”
Each item serves a purpose to help comfort individuals during emergencies.
“Our city is very busy and it can be very overwhelming, and when an accident or something happens in our city or town to come prepared with something like the Carter Kit it’s just a huge comfort as a parent knowing that when the firetruck arrives or an ambulance comes this is gonna be on their vehicles,” said Monique Clement, Project Lifesaver Coordinator for Horry County.
Evans said he estimates the kits will be on every vehicle by this summer.