December 22, 2008

"ONE OF THE BEST TRAINED, BEST EQUIPPED

RESCUE SQUADS IN THE NATION"

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad's

Reputation is Well-Deserved. 

Costing almost $200,000 each, the Rescue Squad’s seven ambulance/medic units are specially built to facilitate patient care and to provide for the patient's comfort and safety. They contain equipment for treating a variety of medical conditions and injuries–including fractures, cardiac problems, respiratory problems, and collision injuries.

All Rescue Squad Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics undergo extensive training and are state-certified. EMTs receive 130 hours of classroom training, in addition to countless hours of practical exercises. Paramedics receive 600 hours of classroom training and clinical time in a hospital setting. Paramedics are trained to treat life-threatening conditions such as diabetic problems, heart attacks, allergic reactions, and traumatic injuries.

At a replacement cost of more than $900,000 each, the Squads’ two heavy rescue squads respond to vehicle collisions, house fires, and almost any other type of situation in which a person needs to be rescued. Often referred to as “rolling toolboxes,” the Squads are packed with sophisticated rescue equipment. At vehicle collisions, the squad crew extricates patients who are trapped within the wreckage. If necessary, the crew can cut the entire roof off a vehicle in a matter of minutes in order to gain access to the occupants. At a fire, the rescue squad crew searches for and rescues people trapped in the burning building and helps extinguish the fire. The Rescue Squad also responds to Metro train incidents, swift-water rescues, high-angle rescues, and other emergencies requiring specialized rescue techniques.

The training required of Rescue Squad crew members is herculean and can run two years or more. It begins with 130 hours of firefighting training, which includes classroom instruction and live firefighting exercises. Training continues with a 70-hour Rescue Technician course, followed by further specialized Rescue Squad training covering all aspects of squad truck operations. All Rescue Squad members are also Emergency Medical Technicians and can provide emergency medical care at the scene and on the way to the hospital.

About the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad:

The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad (BCCRS) is a community-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides professional, no-charge emergency medical, rescue, and fire services to the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area and Upper Northwest Washington, D.C. The Rescue Squad raises almost all of its $1.9 million annual operating budget from individual donors, foundations, and businesses.  BCCRS is a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and contributions to BCCRS are tax-deductible as allowable by law.

The generous contributions from the public, grants from community-minded organizations, and the efforts of 150 professionally trained volunteers result in an estimated savings to taxpayers of more than $3 million per year.

BCCRS’s fleet includes 7 medic/ambulance units, 2 heavy rescue squads, and various command and utility vehicles. BCCRS responds on all types of emergency incidents, including injuries, illnesses, heart attacks, vehicle collisions, and house fires.

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