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Refrigerated Trailer for Rent in Summerville, SC

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You can think of refrigerated trailer rentals almost like a limousine service for your perishable items. In a limo, you get VIP treatment and stylish travel. In an ice truck rental, luxury and style are replaced with plenty of room, accessible storage, and a temperature-controlled environment. These features keep your cargo cool and protected from outdoor elements like rain, sleet, and snow, so you can make sure your items arrive on time when you need them.

You may be wondering to yourself, "Refrigerated trailer rentals sound like the perfect fit for my business. But how do I find them in South Carolina?" The easy answer to that question is to call Charleston Refrigerators Trailers - the Lowcountry's premier choice for high-quality refrigerated trailers and ice truck rentals.

Every one of our refrigerated trailer rentals are:

  • Delivered and Set Up for You
  • Cleaned and Sanitized After Each Customer
  • Pre-Cooled for Your Convenience When Feasible
  • Pre-Equipped with Adjustable Temperature Options
  • Safe, Secure, and Easy to Use

Service Areas

Top Refrigerated Trailers Company Summerville, SC

What Makes Summerville Refrigerated Trailer Different?

At CRT, we believe that renting a refrigerated trailer is about more than simply having a quality cooling unit. Unlike some refrigerated trailer rental companies, we incorporate friendly, helpful customer service into every transaction we complete. That way, our clients know that they're in good hands every time they call our office and have peace of mind that their business won't suffer due to lack of communication.

We also make it a point to be flexible for our customers and strive to go the extra mile for them to make their jobs and lives easier. Need power cords to hook up your ice truck for rent in Summerville? No problem, we can make that happen. Need to pick up one of our refrigerated trailer rentals yourself so you can deliver your own goods? We'd be happy to make arrangements so you can do so. Worried about the overnight security of your temperature-sensitive items? We're delighted to provide a padlock for extra security.

When you boil it down to the basics, Summerville Refrigerated Trailer has become successful in South Carolina because we truly care about our customer's needs and go out of our way to ensure those needs are met.

We offer trailer rentals for both refrigerators and freezers, which are perfect for a number of industries and uses, including the following:

  • Catering Companies
  • Restaurants
  • Festivals
  • Family Reunions
  • Large Gatherings
  • Events
  • Parties
  • Weddings
  • Remote Refrigerated Storage Needs
  • Refrigerated Transportation
  • Rehearsals
  • Emergencies

About Our Refrigerated Trailers for Rent in South Carolina

At Charleston Refrigerators Trailers, all of our mobile rentals are well-built and crafted with a seamless fiberglass design for both reliability and refrigeration efficiency. When you make arrangements to have an ice truck for rent in Summerville delivered or picked up, you'll enjoy a range of helpful trailer features, including the following:

  • Each Trailer Comes in a 6x16 Size
  • Four-Inch Walls for Structural Rigidity and Cool Air Retention
  • 54-Inch Reinforced Doors for Easy Loading and Enhanced Safety
  • Pellet-Duty Floor for Ease of Convenience

Cooling and freezing take place reliably with an integrated GOVI Arktik 2000US series refrigeration unit. These compact units provide a temperature range of 0 to 50 degrees F, are all-electric, and only require 110V and 15 amps. Since our coolers have the capability of maintaining temps both below and above 32 degrees Fahrenheit, our ice truck rentals double as both freezers and coolers. This handy feature makes them a more convenient and robust tool for your personal or business needs versus other mobile cooler rentals in Summerville.

With CRT by your side, there's no need to rent separate ice trucks or mobile refrigerators because our unit is 2-in-1, saving you both time and money.

How Does a Refrigerated Trailer for Rent in Summerville Work?

Generally speaking, refrigerated trailers aren't meant to cool down or freeze the items stored within them. Instead, they're meant to keep products at a specific temperature for a certain amount of time. At Charleston Refrigerators Trailers, our team members use Polar King Mobile trailers. We made the choice to use this brand for a reason: These ice trucks both meet and exceed all compliance guidelines set forth by the NATM or National Association of Trailer Manufacturers.

Our refrigerated trailers for rent utilize three major components:

Compressor

Compressor

When the compressor is powered correctly, it draws in refrigerant and then compresses it. Once the refrigerant is compressed, it becomes liquified and is passed along to the trailer's condenser.

Condenser

Condenser

After the gas is compressed by the compressor, it is passed on to the condenser for a heat exchange process. The condenser fan allows outside air to flow through, leading to the dissipation of heat and a decrease in the refrigerant's temperature. This cooling process results in the refrigerant condensing from hot gas to regular-temperature liquid.

Evaporator

Evaporator

The evaporator receives the liquid refrigerant through an expansion valve that regulates its flow and cooling. The refrigerant transforms into a cool liquid as it passes through the valve, then expands and turns into a warm gas in the evaporator. This gas absorbs the heat and air inside the container and is then drawn into the compressor to restart the cycle.

Summerville Refrigerated Trailer Pro Tip:

Refrigeration units can run in cycles or continuously. Running the refrigeration unit in cycles reduces fuel consumption but creates more temperature variation. Frozen foods are less sensitive to temperature changes and can endure these variations. Continuous cooling is better suited for products and goods that are not able to withstand temperature variations well. At Charleston Refrigerators Trailers, our mobile rental options utilize continuous cooling to ensure your items don't suffer from temperature variations.

5 Benefits of Using an Ice Truck for Rent in Summerville

For business owners, managing funds and staying on top of costs is a crucial part of owning a profitable company. Purchasing and maintaining a fleet of refrigerated trailers can be a significant financial burden, requiring substantial capital investment and ongoing maintenance costs. However, renting refrigerated trucks can help businesses allocate their funds more wisely.

That's especially true for businesses that do not frequently engage in long-distance refrigerated shipping. Why purchase an entire vehicle and refrigeration system when you need the trailer for more minor tasks, like delivering flowers on Valentine's Day or storing products after an unexpected power outage? If you have a specific product line or a limited-time special, it's more practical to go with a refrigerated truck for rent than to purchase an ice truck outright.

In terms of the additional benefits of refrigerated trailer rentals, there's no shortage of them to highlight:

 Refrigerated Trailers Summerville, SC
 Remote Refrigerated Storage Summerville, SC
  • 01 No Maintenance Costs When you rent a refrigerated trailer, one of the biggest benefits is that you don't have to worry about expensive maintenance and repairs. If you were to buy a unit, it would only be a matter of time before you or a qualified professional would have to make repairs. At Summerville Refrigerated Trailer, all of our trailer rental options are well-maintained and up-to-date on repairs and updates.
  • 02 Cost-Effective When you buy an ice truck, you're making a long-term investment that may take a long time to pay off. When you rent, you're getting an immediate solution, which is better for your bank account when you only need the trailer for an abbreviated time.
  • 03 No Storage Costs What many folks don't think about when they buy a refrigerated trailer is that they will need someplace to store it when it's not in use. Often, that means paying even more money to rent a storage unit. With a refrigerated trailer for rent in Summerville, you can eliminate the expenses associated with storage units.
  • 04 Focus on Day-to-Day Business Obligations With an ice truck rental, you can concentrate on your core business activities instead of allocating resources towards managing a fleet of trucks and dealing with all the logistics involved.
  • 05 Refrigerated Space Catered to Your Needs Renting a refrigerated trailer from CRT means you have the flexibility of booking a short or longer-term trailer rental. That can be very helpful, especially for growing businesses and events that might have changing needs from month to month.

Summerville Refrigerated Trailer Pro Tip

 Refrigerated Transportation Summerville, SC

Looking for a spot to practice towing and trailering? Practicing these maneuvers in an empty parking lot is an excellent idea. It's always better to learn the movements of your trailer in empty spaces, so you can avoid any mishaps like trying to back up and park in front of a busy store.

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Refrigerated Trailer FAQs

At Summerville Refrigerated Trailer, we're big proponents of giving our customers plenty of information. That way, they can make informed purchasing decisions and know how to better operate our ice truck rentals. To keep yourself educated, keep these FAQs in mind:

  • Q. Does CRT provide power cords for refrigerated trailer rentals? a. 1 - 100ft Cord Provided.
  • Q. What type of plug do I need for towing your trailer? a. You'll need a regular 120v plug within 100 feet of the trailer
  • Q. Is it OK to store goods in the trailer rental? a. Yes, absolutely. We'll even provide you with a padlock for extra safety!
  • Q. Do I have to clean up when I'm done using the refrigerated trailer rental? a. We ask that at pickup the trailer is in the same condition as when it arrived.
  • Q. I need both a freezer and a refrigerated trailer rental. Can you help? a. Our refrigerated trailer rentals are both coolers AND freezers. Depending on your requirements, we can regulate the temperature from 0 to 50 degrees F.

The Top Choice for Refrigerated Trailer Rentals in South Carolina

Renting a refrigerated trailer just makes good sense for many businesses in Summerville and the metro area. That's why Summerville Refrigerated Trailer proudly serves South Carolina and the Lowcountry with refrigerated and frozen transportation rentals. If you're looking for the reliability, convenience, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness of a refrigerated trailer for rent in Summerville, look no further than CRT.

phone (843) 296-6617

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Latest News in Summerville, SC

Construction begins on 278-unit community in Summerville

Construction has begun on Marlowe Summerville, a 278-unit rental complex on a 27.9-acre site in Summerville.It is the first foray into South Carolina for The Resmark Companies, a Los Angeles-based real estate investment management company, which is partnering with Greystar Real Estate Partners, a Charleston-headquartered investment and development company with offices across the country and on four...

Construction has begun on Marlowe Summerville, a 278-unit rental complex on a 27.9-acre site in Summerville.

It is the first foray into South Carolina for The Resmark Companies, a Los Angeles-based real estate investment management company, which is partnering with Greystar Real Estate Partners, a Charleston-headquartered investment and development company with offices across the country and on four continents.

Marlowe is a Greystar brand marketed as “​​​​​​suburban luxury living.” The Summerville project on N. Main Street and College Park Road is the first Marlowe brand in the state, according to a news release.

“We are excited to make our first investment in the Charleston MSA with Greystar, a long-term and trusted partner,” Ziv Cohen, chief investment officer of Resmark, said in the news release. “Having worked together for a decade, we recognize that Greystar brings rigorous attention to design, quality and detail that results in great consumer response and community acceptance.”

Pre-leasing at Marlowe Summerville is expected to begin next fall, according to Stephen O’Neil, senior vice president for investments at Resmark. The community will offer amenities including a clubhouse equipped with a fitness center and co-working spaces, resort-style pool, grilling stations, pickleball courts, dog park and outdoor dog wash, as well as a grand central amenity lawn with shuffleboard, cornhole and a community garden.

O’Neil said in the release that Resmark was drawn to the site because of “Summerville’s location as a top-tier suburban market near Charleston, its attractive demographics, access to commuting routes and rapidly expanding employer base are all factors that underscore a strong outlook for multifamily development.”

The company also pointed to the site’s proximity to Camp Hall 10 miles away, a 7,000-acre commerce park that has attracted nearly $5 billion in investment and projected to create as many as 1,500 jobs for workers who will need a place to live, the release said.

Related article: Work begins on newest Camp Hall industrial building in Ridgeville

“Summerville is a highly desirable submarket twenty miles northwest of downtown Charleston that is attracting young professionals and families drawn to its quality of life and historic charm,” Ben Liebetrau, managing director of development for Greystar Development and Construction Services. “As we are headquartered in Charleston, we are extremely pleased to bring Greystar’s Marlowe brand to our backyard.”

Of the 278 rental homes, 263 will be constructed in 10 separate three-story walk-up garden-style buildings. Fifteen two-story townhomes, each with a fenced yard and attached garage, will be located in two separate buildings. Ranging in size from 560 square feet to 2,114 square feet, the project unit mix will include 16 studios, 127 one-bedrooms, 118 two-bedrooms and 17 three-bedrooms, the release stated. Each unit will offer features such as granite countertops, wood-like luxury vinyl flooring and stainless-steel appliances.

Resmark is a real estate investment manager that provides capital to homebuilders, land developers and multifamily developers across the country.

Reach Ross Norton at rnorton@scbiznews.com or 864-642-5229.

HOT PROPERTIES: NAI closes $4M sale of Summerville restaurant building

NAI Charleston broker Will Sherrod recently facilitated the sale of about 1.3 acres of land and a 5,200-square-foot former restaurant building at the corner of N. Main Street and Azalea Square Boulevard. The property was previously the Mellow Mushroom at the main entrance to the Azalea Square shopping center. It will be redeveloped by the buyer, Woodhaven Development Group LLC.Sherrod represented the seller, Flour-Town Holdings LLC, and Micah Groeber with Atlantic Retai...

NAI Charleston broker Will Sherrod recently facilitated the sale of about 1.3 acres of land and a 5,200-square-foot former restaurant building at the corner of N. Main Street and Azalea Square Boulevard. The property was previously the Mellow Mushroom at the main entrance to the Azalea Square shopping center. It will be redeveloped by the buyer, Woodhaven Development Group LLC.

Sherrod represented the seller, Flour-Town Holdings LLC, and Micah Groeber with Atlantic Retail represented the buyer. The property sold for $4,006,250.

“The real estate along the N. Main Street corridor in Summerville continues to show significant value and demonstrates the demand for well-positioned retail assets in the market,” Sherrod said in an announcement.

Hot Properties highlights recently sold or leased commercial properties in the Charleston region. Send in your transactions using our online form. Other recent commercial real estate transactions include:

Kristen Krause of Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic represented the seller in the sale of 2,500 square feet on 1.29 acres of commercial redevelopment space at 1905 Old Trolley Road in Summerville, for $1.5 million. Michael Silverman of TSCG represented the buyer.

Lee & Associates represented the seller in the sale of just under a quarter-acre of land at 56 State St. in downtown Charleston. The property sold for $4,750,000 to SSI Fund Acquisitions LLC.

Kip Bowman and Sara Bodell of Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic represented the tenant, Aspen Fencing LLC, in the lease of 4,533 square feet of industrial warehouse space at 4509 Savannah Highway in Ravenel to 1667 Meeting Street LLC. Joseph Teckenburg of CCTRE represented the landlord.

Vitré Ravenel Stephens & Taylor Sekanovich of Harbor Commercial Partners represented the landlord, McDew LLC, in the lease of 1,210 square feet of retail space for Unit E at 5117 Dorchester Road in North Charleston to S. Rochelle Richardson.

Patrick Nealon of Colliers represented JP Morgan in the lease of 3,509 square feet of retail space at 1260 Appling Drive in Mount Pleasant to II Brunettes.

Markus Kastenholz of Colliers represented McNeel Properties in the purchase of 1.5 acres of land at 107 Traders Cross in Bluffton.

Robert Pratt of Re/Max Pro Realty represented the buyer, Dentvestment LLC, in the purchase of 3,337 square feet of medical space at 1709 Old Trolley Road in Summerville from 1709 Old Trolley Road LLC for $1.1 million.

Best Internet Providers in Summerville, South Carolina

What is the best internet provider in Summerville?AT&T Fiber is the top internet service provider in Summerville, South Carolina. The area’s largest fiber internet provider, AT&T, offers a wide selection of competitively priced plans, including the fastest in Summerville, with speeds up to 5,000 megabits per second. Service includes free ...

What is the best internet provider in Summerville?

AT&T Fiber is the top internet service provider in Summerville, South Carolina. The area’s largest fiber internet provider, AT&T, offers a wide selection of competitively priced plans, including the fastest in Summerville, with speeds up to 5,000 megabits per second. Service includes free equipment rental, unlimited data and no contract requirements, perks that aren’t all available from other wired ISPs in Summerville.

If AT&T Fiber is unavailable, or you’re looking for a cheaper internet service, you may have a choice of multiple cable ISPs. Spectrum, WideOpenWest (WOW) and Xfinity are all available to some extent in Summerville, and each is worth considering. Spectrum has the greatest availability, while Xfinity and WOW have the lowest starting price on internet service in Summerville at $20 per month for speeds up to 75Mbps and 100Mbps, respectively.

For an alternative to traditional fiber and cable connections, consider fixed wireless internet from Verizon 5G Home Internet or T-Mobile Home Internet. The latter has slightly better coverage in Summerville, but Verizon 5G Home Internet has potentially faster speeds and two plans. Both are decent options and both currently offer mobile bundle discounts.

Our methodology

CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Summerville across several categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also do a close read of providers' terms and conditions and, when needed, will call ISPs to verify the details.

Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: Certain addresses may qualify for different service tiers, and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your particular options is to plug your address into a provider's website.

Also, the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider's pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs. At the same time, the text is specific to what's available in Summerville. The prices referenced within this article's text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month -- a standard industry offering. Other discounts and promotions might also be available for things like signing a term contract or bundling with multiple services.

To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.

Best internet in Summerville, South Carolina

Best internet provider in Summerville, SC

Our take - It’s not the cheapest ISP in Summerville, but AT&T Fiber arguably delivers the best value. Plans come with symmetrical upload and download speeds, an advantage not available with cable internet, plus unlimited data and no equipment fees. There is also no set price increase -- unlike Spectrum, WOW and Xfinity, which all increase in price after the first year or two.

Read full review

Or call to learn more: (866) 431-6052

Check with AT&T

Connection

Fiber

Speed range

300 - 5,000 Mbps

Price range

$55 - $250 per month

Show more details

Best internet coverage in Summerville, SC

Our take - Nine out of 10 Summerville households are serviceable for Spectrum, according to the Federal Communication Commission. Speeds of 100 to 1,000Mbps are available throughout the coverage area, and all plans come with unlimited data and no contracts. Your modem is also included at no additional cost, but renting a router will run you $5 monthly.

Read full review

Or call to learn more: (877) 361-3842

Check with Spectrum

Connection

Cable

Speed range

100 - 1,000 Mbps

Price range

$30- $90 per month

Show more details

Best fixed wireless internet in Summerville, SC

Our take - There’s a lot to like about Verizon 5G Home Internet, but the overall value will depend on the speeds you can get. Service starts at $50 or $70 per month (lower for qualifying Verizon mobile customers) and includes unlimited data, free equipment rental and no contracts. Speeds can vary widely by address, from 50 to 300Mbps or 85 to 1,000Mbps, depending on your chosen plan.

Read full review

Or call to learn more: (844) 634-4339

Check with Verizon

Connection

Fixed wireless

Speed range

85 - 1,000 Mbps

Show more details

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Summerville

The best internet deals and the top promotions in Summerville depend on discounts available during a given period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.

Summerville internet providers, such as Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many providers, including AT&T Fiber, Spectrum and WOW, run the same standard pricing year-round.

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Summerville

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and take into account real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

Internet providers in Summerville FAQs

LIST: Where to see Santa across the Lowcountry this holiday season

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Santa has a jam-packed schedule this holiday season. Are you wondering where to take the kids to see Santa? Below, you’ll find a breakdown of all the areas Santa will be across the Lowcountry.Summerville – Head to Top Dawg Tavern in Summerville on Dec. 20 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and grab some pictures with Santa. Kids are welcome to attend, and there will be live music from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., with specials running all night.– Children of Summerville can tak...

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Santa has a jam-packed schedule this holiday season. Are you wondering where to take the kids to see Santa? Below, you’ll find a breakdown of all the areas Santa will be across the Lowcountry.

Summerville

– Head to Top Dawg Tavern in Summerville on Dec. 20 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and grab some pictures with Santa. Kids are welcome to attend, and there will be live music from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., with specials running all night.

– Children of Summerville can take pictures and give Santa their wish list letters at the Old Time Summerville Christmas Celebration on Nov. 28 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Mount Pleasant

– Support local children’s charities and see Santa and Mrs. Clause by attending Winter Wonderland at The Belle Hall Shopping Center in Mount Pleasant. The event will be Dec. 1 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

– All kids can get a free chocolate pop and a photo shoot with Santa at Mt. Pleasant Towne Centre from Nov. 24 to Dec. 24. To see the photo shoot schedule and make reservations, go to https://mtpleasanttownecentre.com/events/photos-with-santa-claus/

– Ahead of the Folly Beach Christmas Parade, citizens can grab photos with Santa Pierview, Pavilion Ballroom, Dec. 9 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. There will be ornament-making craft tables and a hot and cold food buffet. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.tidesfollybeach.com/breakfast-with-santa/?utm_source=third_party_listings&utm_medium=calendar_listing&utm_campaign=santa-breakfast

Isle of Palms

– Eat at Rudolph’s pancake buffet and have breakfast with Santa on Dec. 2 in the Tides Ballroom at Wild Dunes Resort from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Call 877-230-9224 to book a reservation.

Cottageville

– Bee City Zoo’s Wonderland of Lights will feature Santa visits from Nov. 22 to Dec. 31. To purchase tickets and see Santa’s schedule, visit https://www.beecityzoo.com/

North Charleston

– Visit with Santa at the City of North Charleston Christmas Festival and Parade at Felix C. Davis Community Center, Dec. 2, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

– Santa’s Workshop will be set up at Northwoods Mall in North Charleston on Nov. 22. To reserve your visit or find visitor hours, click here: https://www.shopnorthwoodsmall.com/store/santas_workshop

Charleston

– Santa will be at the Citadel Mall Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Nov. 24 through Dec. 24. You can also make reservations and skip the line at citadelmall.net

– Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be at The Charleston Place on the 2nd-floor landing Dec. 2,9 and 16 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

– The Charleston Santa welcomes visitors at The Best Friend Train Museum every weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Reservations are required; however, admission is free. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. except on Dec. 16, 17, and 23, which will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

– Visit with Santa in the library at The Restoration Hotel on Dec. 9 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

– On Christmas Eve, Santa will be at the Crown Ballroom for a breakfast buffet filled with sweet and savory foods. If you want breakfast with Santa, call 843-990-5460 or make reservations online at https://www.opentable.com/r/hotel-bennett-special-events-charleston. Tickets are $82 per adult and $47 for children under 12.

Bugs, blood & beatings: Docs reveal claims against Summerville youth facility

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) - Newly obtained documents show dozens of complaints have been filed in recent years against a Summerville youth treatment facility, alleging there are bugs, abuse, dangerously low staffing levels, violent fights and blood and vomit smeared throughout the building.Mary Wilcox’s grandson spent time in that facility, Palmetto Summerville Behavioral Health, earlier this year.“Terror” is how she describes her feelings about the residential facility, which is for children and teens ages 7-1...

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) - Newly obtained documents show dozens of complaints have been filed in recent years against a Summerville youth treatment facility, alleging there are bugs, abuse, dangerously low staffing levels, violent fights and blood and vomit smeared throughout the building.

Mary Wilcox’s grandson spent time in that facility, Palmetto Summerville Behavioral Health, earlier this year.

“Terror” is how she describes her feelings about the residential facility, which is for children and teens ages 7-18 with emotional and behavioral issues.

Her 13-year-old grandson was admitted to the youth residential treatment facility earlier this year.

For weeks, he stayed locked behind the doors of the facility; for weeks he recounted the horror and violence to his grandmother; and for weeks, Wilcox said she fought to get him out.

“[He] was abused in ways that most parents would say would be the worst thing to happen to their child,” Wilcox says.

During phone calls with his grandmother and an in-person visit, he detailed vicious fights, sexual assaults and abuse.

“He was struggling to deal with what was going on, and he attempted to escape,” Wilcox said. “He was handled by a staff member who slammed his head into a chain link fence causing a gash, causing blood to drop down his face.”

Her grandson’s story is not the first troubling one that has been shared. Nearly 200 pages of documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request for complaints against the facility in the past few years detail allegations of what some say erupts in the hallways and common areas and what hides, tucked away in patients’ rooms.

The dozens of complaints filed describe alleged bug infestations, inadequate staffing, filthy conditions, overmedicating and a prison-like environment.

One complaint says a staff member attacked a patient.

“On the video, it was observed that a staff member placing [redacted] into a choke hold and then it is observed on camera that same staff member punching [redacted] six times once [redacted] is taken down to the ground,” the complaint states.

Another states a patient was so heavily medicated they fainted. In a different complaint, an employee is accused of grabbing a patient by the shirt, pulling them down and kneeing them in the face.

“It does not surprise me at all,” Wilcox says. “My grandson communicated similar conditions to me. It is very alarming that this happened to my grandson; it’s alarming that children are in the facility still.”

One complaint alleges the facility frequently only has one nurse on duty with 60 patients and was so short-staffed they couldn’t provide proper treatment.

Another states there have been “numerous human rights violations” and claims patients are refused medical treatment and prescriptions.

“Supervisors explicitly tell staff to ‘treat them like prisoners because they are here for punishment’ rather than treating the patients with compassion as they go through treatment,” the complaint states.

Another complaint describes cockroaches and ants crawling around and blood and vomit smeared inside.

“[Palmetto Summerville] should be investigated,” Wilcox says. “They need to be checked out. They need to be monitored, and they need to be held accountable.”

The State Department of Health and Environmental Control is the agency responsible for investigating complaints against health facilities like Palmetto Summerville. It can also penalize them.

“When there is noncompliance with the licensing standards, the facility must submit an acceptable written plan of correction to DHEC that must be signed by the administrator and returned by the date specified on the report of inspection/investigation,” an email from DHEC states. “When DHEC determines that a facility is in violation of any statutory provision, rule, or regulation relating to the operation or maintenance of such facility, DHEC, upon proper notice to the licensee, may impose a monetary penalty, and deny, suspend, or revoke licenses.”

Last month, DHEC investigated two complaints against Palmetto Summerville, but no violations were cited, according to officials. In August, however, the facility was fined $19,000 for nine violations.

“DHEC executed a consent order with the facility in August after it was determined that it was appropriate to impose a civil monetary penalty for violations of Regulation 61-103,” the email from DHEC states.

Some of those violations, documents show, include failing to have a registered nurse immediately accessible by phone and available within 30 minutes, failing to notify DHEC of a serious accident or incident within 24 hours, failing to make sure residents were free from harm and failing to make sure medications were available for administration.

“[Patients] are further traumatized,” Wilcox says. “They are further placed into a downward spiral by being in these facilities.”

That downward spiral and that trauma, she says, prevent any effective treatment for the children who spend time at Palmetto Summerville and similar facilities.

Some studies show that could be right.

One study shows there’s not enough research to know if the interventions — therapy, activities and treatments — inside these facilities are effective or an effective use of money.

“We also don’t know a lot about what the, what treatments they’re actually getting because we don’t necessarily see the day-to-day life of these kids in these facilities,” Roderick Rose, an associate professor at the University of Maryland Baltimore and researcher in the study, says.

A common trend in the facilities: Medication. One study shows about 90 percent of stays at facilities analyzed included an antipsychotic medication, even though only 3 percent of patients were diagnosed with a psychotic disorder.

“You also see just a lot of medicating children,” Rose says.

For her grandson, Wilcox believes the best treatment has been being back home. He’s in school and playing basketball and is doing better. The trauma from the facility still lingers, however, and Wilcox says she prays other children can get the help they need outside of the gates of Palmetto Summerville.

“I am so very grateful that he is one child that escaped being in the situation he was in long,” she says. “Other children, as well, to be rescued, which is a most appropriate word. They need to be rescued from these facilities.”

Norman Bradley, the director of risk management and performance improvement for Palmetto Summerville Behavioral Health released this statement:

Due to HIPAA patient privacy laws, we cannot offer comment on specific patients or their care.

Palmetto Summerville Behavioral Health takes all allegations of abuse seriously and completes full investigations as warranted. Any and all allegations required to be reported to the Department of Health and Environmental Control have been done, and necessary action plans have been implemented to address the issues raised. Recent site visits by DHEC have been positive and have resulted in no findings.

Palmetto Summerville Behavioral Health is a residential treatment facility for girls and boys ages 7 to 18, in need of a highly structured, therapeutic environment. Our patient satisfaction scores reflect the care that is delivered by our compassionate and dedicated team.

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