March 13, 2009

For immediate release

NEWS RELEASE

Contact

Kumar Vaswani
media@bccrs.org

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad Members Honored

in Graduation Ceremony 

Members of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad (BCCRS), one of the nation's most advanced and best-trained rescue squads, were honored in graduation ceremonies at the Montgomery County (Md.) Fire and Rescue Training Academy on March 13, 2009

Rescue Squad volunteers Marie-Jo Horner and Brian Forquer completed Montgomery County's Emergency Medical Technician-Basic Class. EMT-B is the first level of formalized medical training required for all Rescue Squad volunteers. The training program consists of over 130 hours of classroom time coupled with additional in-hospital clinical requirements and countless hours spent riding Rescue Squad ambulances on actual emergency calls. EMT-Bs perform a variety of skills, including patient assessment, basic life support, and use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

All Rescue Squad volunteers and staff receive professional training and meet or exceed state standards before taking charge on emergency calls.

About the B-CC Rescue Squad

Now in its 69th year, BCCRS is a community-supported non-profit organization that provides, at no charge to the recipient, professional emergency medical, ambulance, rescue, and fire services to the Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Maryland area, as well as upper Northwest Washington, D.C. Thanks to the generous donations of the community, the efforts of 150 professionally trained volunteers, and a staff of daytime employees, BCCRS has evolved into one of the nation's most advanced rescue squads, providing compassionate, life-saving services to the community. BCCRS does not receive regular budgeted funds from any government. Instead, BCCRS raises almost all of its $1.9 million operating budget from individual donors, foundations, businesses, and occasional state and federal grants. BCCRS is registered under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and contributions to BCCRS are tax-deductible as allowable by law.

For information on volunteering with BCCRS, call the membership hotline at 301-657-5557, email us at membership@bccrs.org , or visit www.bccrs.org . BCCRS welcomes new volunteers year-round. No experience is necessary, and volunteers receive free professional training as well as annual physicals.

BCCRS’s fleet includes 7 ambulance/medic units, 2 heavy rescue squads, 2 air support units for refilling firefighters’ breathing apparatus at fire scenes, and various command and utility vehicles. BCCRS responds to all types of emergency incidents, including injuries, illnesses, heart attacks, vehicle collisions, house fires, and many others.

###

To receive email updates on this and other Rescue Squad issues, click here to sign up for our email newsletter.  

Return to Newsroom.