The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad in the News

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• April 16, 2008  FEMA Pulls Grant from B-CC Rescue Squad.  Gazette, April 16, 2008.   The Federal Emergency Management Agency has inexplicably rescinded a $246,000 recruiting grant from the B-CC Rescue Squad. 

• April 16, 2008  Professionals by Day, Heroes by Night, Gazette, April 16, 2008.  " The squad attracts all kinds of professionals, from teachers and lawyers to researchers at the National Institutes of Health and computer technicians.  Their reasons for joining the squad are just as diverse as the jobs they leave at 5 p.m."

• March 26, 2008 B-CC Rescue Squad Members Complete Training, Gazette, March 26, 2008.  Twelve Rescue Squad volunteers are recognized for completing training programs to become Emergency Medical Technicians or Firefighters.

• December 26, 2007.  B-CC Community Holds Goodwill Dinner, Gazette, December 26, 2007.  "Community members reached out to those less fortunate at the 19th Annual Goodwill Dinner, held at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad on December 19." 

• November 1, 2007.  Rescuer, Bethesda Magazine, November/December 2007.  Rescue Squad volunteer Brooke Davies is named one of eleven Bethesda-area "wonder women."  "[A]t the sound of a siren, Brooke Davies morphs into her alter ego: a rescuer who quick-changes like Clark Kent into 60 pounds of gear, climbs into a 53,000-pound rescue squad truck and rushes to the aid of the community."   

• October 10, 2007.  To the Rescue, Gazette, October 10, 2007.  "Eight-year-old Josephine Davis of Bethesda shoots a fire hose with help from firefighter Maggie Roberts Saturday at the annual Rescue Day in Bethesda hosted by the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad." 

• October 3, 2007.  The Fire in Their Hearts,

   The Gazette, 10/3/2007.  Rescue Squad volunteer Kendall Sanderson receives Montgomery County Paramedic of the Year Award. 

• September 15, 2007.  "In Montgomery County,"  Montgomery County Cable TV channel 21 (aired 9/15/07 and other dates).  Program features the Rescue Squad and its nationally renowned volunteer program.   For more information, visit http://www.mct-tv.org.

• September 12, 2007  The B-CC Rescue Squad is Coming a 'Knocking, The Gazette, 9/12/2007.    The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad has started up its 67th annual door-to-door fundraising campaign, which will continue through late October.
• July 18, 2007   B-CC Rescue Squad Members Get Top Honors in Graduation Ceremony,  The Gazette, 7/18/2007.   Sixteen members of the Rescue Squad were honored in graduation ceremonies at the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Training Academy.   They completed training as Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics or Firefighters. 
• April 25, 2007   Rescue Squad Launches Recruiting Drive, The Gazette, 4/25/2007.  "The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, one of the nation’s most advanced and best trained rescue squads, is launching a membership drive to recruit new volunteer members."  (Scroll down within the "People and Places" column to read the article.)
• April 11, 2007  Rescue Squad Member Takes Top Honors, The Gazette, 4/11/2007.

  Two members of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad were honored in early spring graduation ceremonies at the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Training Academy last month.

• April 1, 2007  Hospital Administrator Draws Upon Jesuit Values, Scranton Journal, Spring 2007.   Hospital Administrator and CEO John "Jack" Lynch reflects on his education and experience, including his service as an EMT with the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad beginning at age 17.  "It was an incredible confidence-building experience to drive an ambulance and be responsible for pre-hospital patient care."  (Article starts on page 19 of pdf document, on University of Scranton website.)
• March 14, 2007   Grant Gets B-CC Rescue Squad New Protective Gear, The Gazette, 3/14/2007.   The Rescue Squad receives a $10,466 grant for personal protective gear from Bethesda’s B.F. Saul Insurance and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company.
• January 10, 2007    Rescue Squad Volunteer Saves Life - Damascus Man Saved from Burning Home, The Gazette, 1/10/2007.    Rescue Squad volunteer and Master Firefighter Tony Veith saves a Damascus man who was trapped in his home during a fire. 
• January 2007     Rescue Squad named One of the "67 Things We Love About Bethesda," Bethesda Magazine, January/February 2007.   The Rescue Squad is Number 12 of the "67 Things We Love About Bethesda." 
• November 24, 2006    Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad Needs Help, The Examiner, 11/24/2006.   The Rescue Squad, one of the nation's most advanced and best-trained Rescue Squads, is looking for100 new volunteers this year. 
• October 4, 2006    Get a Taste of All the Community Has to Offer, The Gazette, 10/4/2006.  Rescue Day 2006 a big draw for families. 
• September 27, 2006    Vintage 1972 Cadillac Ambulance Highlights B-CC's Rescue Day,  The Gazette, 9/27/2006.  The Rescue Squad's recently restored Cadillac ambulance, a favorite of children and families, makes its public debut at annual Rescue Day open house. 
• September 2006    Joan Keller Answered a Call for Help, Next Door News, September 2006.  "Joan Keller's roots in Bethesda run deep, as does her connection with the B-CC Rescue Squad." (PDF File).
• August 2006      David Chaconas Pulls Double Duty with B-CC Rescue Squad,    Next Door News, August 2006.  Squad President has been volunteering with the Rescue Squad since high school.  "An organization run entirely by volunteers, the B-CC Rescue Squad requires a chief leader just like any small company."  (PDF File).  
• August 2, 2006    B-CC Rescue Squad Members Honored for Excellent Training, The Gazette, 8/2/2006. Nine rescue squad volunteers and one member of the Squad’s day staff are recognized for completing training programs to become paramedics, cardiac rescue technicians, emergency medical technicians, and firefighters.
• January 25, 2006    Donation to Rescue Squad Helps Mobility, The Gazette, 1/25/2006.  A donation to the Rescue Squad will mean new bicycles for its Bicycle Emergency Response Team, which provides emergency medical services at outdoor events such as the Taste of Bethesda.
• December 21, 2005    Two New Ambulances Join B-CC Rescue Squad Fleet,  The Gazette, 12/21/2005.   Thanks to generous community donations, the Rescue Squad acquires two new ambulance/medic units, at a cost of more than $185,000 each.
• October 19, 2005    Professionals by Day, Heroes by Night, The Gazette, 10/19/2005. In addition to providing emergency medical and rescue services to the community, the Rescue Squad also provides volunteers with a sense of fulfillment from helping out their neighbors and with skills they can use in their professional careers.
• September 2004  Rescue Squad Serves as a Model for Recruitment/Retention, Volunteer Management Report.   "Why would hundreds of people volunteer 12 to 30 hours a week, undergo demanding training and subject themselves to a rigorous duty schedule and disciplinary process in order to serve the community . . . ?  It's the cachet of membership, as well as the camaraderie, the satisfaction that comes from serving the community and a sense of accomplishment that motivates people to volunteer with the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad." 
• March 26, 2003    At B-CC Rescue Squad, First Aid Arrives on Two and Four Wheels, The Gazette, 3/26/2003.  "Don't expect pretty pink streamers on, or baseball cards in the spokes of, the mountain bikes of Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad's Bicycle Emergency Response Team."  Describes the team and its dedicated volunteer members, who provide emergency medical coverage at large events such as the Taste of Bethesda. 
• March 23, 1992.  Rescue Volunteers Find Alarm a Sound Calling, Washington Post, March 23, 1992.  Describes the Rescue Squad and its "new breed of volunteer rescue worker, one used to dealing with psychiatric cases and child abuse cases as well as the traditional car wrecks and heart attacks." 
• April 26, 1990  Bush Salutes Md. Rescue Squad, Washington Post, 4/26/1990.  "President [George H.W. Bush] yesterday marked the third day of National Volunteer Week and the 50th anniversary of the volunteer Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad."  [Click here to read President Bush's speech.]
• May 12, 1988.  Donald Dunnington Dies; Founded Rescue Squad, Washington Post (obituary), 5/12/198. 
• January 1, 1982.  Washingtonian of the Year, Washingtonian, January 1982.  "In his twelve years as chief, David Dwyer's Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad has served as a model for volunteer rescue departments everywhere and has enjoyed the sustained backing of its community.  . . . For ensuring his neighbors a free rescue service of high quality, David Dwyer is a Washingtonian of the Year." 
• January 25, 1980  Rescue Squad Offers More than Drama to Volunteers, Washington Post, 1/25/1980.  Describes the volunteers at "one of the finest emergency medical service organizations in the state."  "Six and a half years ago, Mike Kiely was watching television in his home in Northwest Washington when he came to the stark . . . realization that 'there has to be more to life than sitting at home Wednesday nights watching "Charlie's Angels." ' "
• March 1974  Call an Ambulance!, Washingtonian Magazine.   Describes evolving standards in Emergency Medical Services and the state of ambulance service in the Washington, D.C. area. "The best ambulance emergency rescue systems consist of ambulance attendants with training equivalent to that of a military paramedic [and] vehicles equipped and sized to be emergency rooms on wheels."  Features photographs of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad in action.

• August 31, 1953  Bethesda-Chevy Chase Squad Likes Trouble, Washington Post, 8/31/1953.   Chronicles the wide-ranging services of the Squad and the dedication of its volunteers.  "The public pays for the service through its donations--and the service, squad members believe, is the best.  That means that day or night . . . B-CC is ready to roll out of its cramped station at 4800 Fairmont AVe., Bethesda . . . [T]he phone rings and they cock an ear and the bell goes off and they head for the equipment with the haste of firemen moving out on a second alarm. . . . "
• November 9, 1949  Bethesdans' Rescue Work is Far Flung, Washington Post, 11/9/1949.   "Saving lives and alleviating human suffering are almost a religion with the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad."   
• March 1949   Lifesaving Is Their Hobby, Coronet Magazine.  "Whenever lives are at stake, Maryland's volunteer squad of young citizens roars to the rescue, ready for any emergency. . . .   Ranging in age from 18 to 36, these men have snatched thousands of people from death's door."

   

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