June 28, 2002
For Immediate Release

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Assistant Chief Peter Morris
(202) 262-3081

Rescue Squad Volunteers Awarded Top Honors
at County Graduation Ceremony

For Immediate Release:

Five volunteer members of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad (BCCRS) were honored for outstanding academic performance during the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services' Spring 2002 Graduation Ceremony held on Friday, June 28, 2002. A total of 31 BCC Rescue Squad volunteers graduated during the evening ceremony held at the University of Maryland's Shady Grove campus. The Rescue Squad volunteers were recognized for successfully completing training programs at the Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Training Academy (FRTA) to become Paramedics (EMT-P), Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT-B), or Firefighters.

Eight BCC Rescue Squad volunteers and a member of the BCCRS day staff graduated from the grueling 600-hour EMT-Paramedic class that started last September. Paramedic is the highest level of medical training for pre-hospital care providers at the Rescue Squad; students spend countless hours in the classroom, at area hospitals, and riding Medic Units in order to complete the rigorous training requirements.

BCC volunteer Sandra Melnick was awarded the prestigious Willa K. Little Award for being the top academic student in Paramedic Class # 23. The other new BCC Paramedics include Michael P. Harkins, Ann Price, Jonathan Rogul, Adam Roth, Leo Ruiz, Timothy Ryan, Robert M. Seitz, and Ray Colvin.

In addition, BCC Rescuers were the top academic students in all three of the county's Spring Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B) classes. Rescuer Allison DiMartini was honored for scoring the highest grades in EMT-B Class #298, and Rescuer Laura Nathan was the top student in EMT-B Class #299. Rescuers Scott Brown and Tela Gallagher carried on the BCC tradition of academic excellence by tying for the #1 spot in EMT-B Class #301.

A total of 16 BCCRS volunteer members graduated from the Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (EMT-B) training program. 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. The other EMT-B graduates included Lourdes Acuna, Mark Blackburn, Tracy Brown, Eudora Jones, Clifton Krieg, Michael Simpson, Jennifer Woo, Shan Chow, Paul Krezanoski, Erick Manricks, Sylvie Metropolit, and Marc Plante.

Seven Rescue Squad volunteers graduated as new Firefighters from Montgomery County's Essentials of Firefighting Class # 02-02. The 120-hour firefighter's course consists of very physically demanding practical training, including live firefighting evolutions. The Rescue Squad proudly claimed the eldest student in the class; 50-year old BCC volunteer Denise Parker completed the course amongst a field of students half her age. The other newly trained BCC Firefighters were Daniel Carnevale, Andrew Clay, Matt Langhenry, Gregory Mitchell, Stephanie Sefried, and D. Eric Vrem.

A total of 127 students, both volunteer and career, were recognized for graduating from either the Paramedic program, EMT-B classes, or the firefighting course. BCC Rescue Squad members accounted for almost 30% of the volunteers countywide who graduated from these courses.

Last year BCC Rescue Squad responded to over 10,000 emergency calls in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Glen Echo, Cabin John and upper Northwest DC. BCC's headquarters on Old Georgetown Road was one of the busiest fire/rescue stations in Montgomery County for 2001. This year the Rescue Squad opened a new sub-station on North Park Avenue in Friendship Heights to enhance advanced life support services to the area.

BCC Rescue Squad is comprised of over 150 active volunteer firefighter/rescuers and Paramedics, a weekday staff of 10 employees, and two DFRS Paramedics. This year marks the 62nd year of continued Rescue Squad service to the community. Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad does not accept any direct tax funding from either Montgomery County or the District of Columbia; instead the organization relies on contributions from individuals and businesses within the community.

For further information, please contact Assistant Chief Peter Morris, Public Information Officer, at (202) 262-3081 or visit the Rescue Squad's website at www.bccrs.org. Information about training courses may be obtained at www.mcfrs.org/psta; however, individuals must be affiliated with a fire/rescue department and register through their respective Training Coordinator.