March 29, 2007

For immediate release

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:Assistant Chief Johnie Roth
(301) 652-0077

media@bccrs.org

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad Members Honored in Graduation Ceremony.

Rescue Squad Member Takes Top Honors.

Two members of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, one of the nation's most advanced and best trained rescue squads, were honored in early Spring graduation ceremonies at the Montgomery County (Md.) Fire and Rescue Training Academy on March 23, 2007.

Rescue Squad volunteers Maura Manion and Richard Martin completed the rigorous Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B) course. Maura Manion received the prestigious Richard B. Thompson Emergency Care Award for top academic performance in her class. EMT-B is the first level of formalized medical training required for all Rescue Squad volunteers. The training program consists of over 131 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 responding to emergency calls.

Now in its 67th year, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad (BCCRS) is a philanthropically operated, community supported organization that provides, at no cost to the recipient, the highest level of emergency medical, ambulance, rescue, and fire suppression service for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Maryland area and Upper Northwest Washington, D.C. BCCRS does not receive a regular appropriated budget from any government. Instead, BCCRS raises almost all of its $1.4 million operating budget from individual donors, foundations, businesses, and occasional state and federal grants. For information on volunteering, visit www.bccrs.org, call 301 657-5557 or email membership@bccrs.org.

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