Dying on Daufuskie

We are residents of Daufuskie Island who have formed a task force to provide islanders with a written course of action that can be implemented when a loved one dies on Daufuskie. With Daufuskie’s unique position as an island without a bridge, many islanders have concerns about how to handle end-of-life issues and transport of the deceased. And importantly, with the Beaufort County attorney’s county-wide mandate that emergency vehicles cannot be used to transport the deceased, we needed to determine how our specific transportation needs could be met. Hence, our interest in providing a step-by-step guide to help Daufuskie Islanders with the process.

We developed these guidelines after having conversations with islanders who have the background and community involvement to contribute relevant information on this sensitive subject. Everyone wanted to make the transportation process as fluid and efficient as possible for all concerned. An integral part is transferring the deceased from Daufuskie to Hilton Head and possibly beyond.

These guidelines and a listing of area funeral homes have beenn give to Pastor Aaron Crosby for dissemination to his congregation and they have been posted on the Daufuskie Island Council website and the Haig Point member web site (Vendor Directory). In addition, we have sent a letter of explanation and copy of these guidelines to the area funeral homes. We hope this information will be helpful to all.

Update in 2020 by: Dr. Carole Rizzo Baum, DIFD Commissioner Nancy Ludtke, DIFD Commissioner Erin Quinn, DIFD

Originally Compiled in 2017 by: Carol Humphreys Gary Stewart Ginny Teerlink

Step by Step Guide

1. If death occurs, call 911. Emergency personnel (EMS & Sherriff’s Office) will respond to the 911 address from which your call has been made.
2. EMS personnel will conduct tests to determine if death has occurred and from their findings will either 1) notify the coroner or 2) contact the Hilton Head Hospital ER physician on duty. The physician will review the test results and confirm that death has occurred. Once death has been verified, emergency personnel will leave the premises as the circumstances become a private matter for family/friends to manage.
3. A member of the deceased’s family or friend must call a funeral home to arrange for the collection of the body for transport to Hilton Head and any locations beyond. (A list of area funeral homes is attached.) The Beaufort County attorney has mandated that, county-wide, emergency personnel and their vehicles cannot be used for transport of the deceased.
4. A member of the deceased’s family or friend must call the Haig Point Front Desk (843-686- 2000) to advise that a death has occurred and that a designated funeral home has been contacted. Front Desk personnel will contact Richard Inglis, Director of Transportation, or any Transportation supervisor on duty who will coordinate with the funeral home director to provide transportation for two funeral home workers and one gurney on a regularly-scheduled departure from the Haig Point Welcome Center on Hilton Head to the Haig Point dock on Daufuskie Island.
5. Haig Point will provide one van and a driver to transport the funeral home workers to the site for the collection of the deceased and the return to the Haig Point dock with the funeral home workers and the deceased.
6. Haig Point will transport the two funeral home workers and the deceased on a separate boat from the Haig Point dock on Daufuskie Island to the Haig Point Welcome Center on Hilton Head at a time of day when few passengers are on the dock. The Haig Point fee for the service detailed in #4, 5 and 6 is $400 and will be billed to the funeral home.
7. If family/friends wish internment of the deceased on Daufuskie Island, Haig Point will charge its standard charter rates for ferry service for groups departing from Hilton Head and arriving at Daufuskie Island.

Area Funeral Homes

Funeral Home List