From the VAVRS Executive Director

Submitted by E.B. “Bubby” Bish, Jr., Executive Director

Well Spring is right around the corner, which means Spring Board of Governors and 2023 VAVRS Rescue College. Since our last meeting the office has been very busy preparing for all the upcoming events coming in the Spring.

I had the honor and privilege to attend the StauntonAugusta Rescue Squad Banquet as their guest speaker. I haven’t seen such a great demonstration of enthusiasm of members in many years. It was completely amazing the fellowship and motivation of the members. It reminded me of the old days of convention. The yelling and screaming to support each other. All I can say, Congratulations for a display of Honor and Respect for each other.

On January 14, 2024, Kenny Frenier and I traveled to Staunton-Augusta Rescue Squad and taught a Traffic Incident Management class to different agencies in District 1. We had a great turnout of students with a lot of questions. We as an organization need to continue to teach this class to protect all First Responders. It’s a four-hour class that make a huge difference in your life and your agencies.

I also attended Bensley-Bermuda Rescue Squads Installation and Banquet. I had the honor and privilege to install the 2023 officers of their organization. The members there also showed enthusiasm and caring for each other. The members present were different from what I have seen in the past. Most of their running members are young. Most of our members today are not in their twenties, but these members are. That went very well with displays and videos of our members in action and the promotion of VAVRS and its activities. I also attended the Central Virginia EMS Education EXPO in Henrico with setting up the booth. Great attendance.

Late February, Kevin Dillard, Ken Morgan, and I traveled to Danville to visit a great friend, Clayton Lester. We had a great lunch and talked about the old days. Clayton looks great and wishes everyone the best. We, here at the office, are working very hard to service our members and give you the best customer service available. Please help us get out the word about the different Scholarships available for our members and families. So, get the word out, also get the word out about Rescue College and the 2023 FRV Conference in Hampton.

More great news! The work Scott Davis put into it, we now have two 85” monitors, one in the conference room and one in the training room. Both are capable of ZOOM meetings and training. Great job Scott. We still have a lot of work to do here in the office. It’s going to take time, but we have the determination and skill to make it great. If there is anything here in the office we can do, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. In closing, “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you.” Be safe!

Two, Three, Four—Dunlap Fire and Rescue

Submitted by EMS Captain Diann Hawk, DVFR

The day was sunny and cold, on January 2, 2023 in Alleghany County, Virginia. In the rural area of Dunlap, outside of Covington, approximately 1300hrs, the first call of the year rang out for Dunlap Volunteer Fire and Rescue. The report was dispatched as a single vehicle MVA with unknown injuries, on Rt 311, in the vicinity of an uncertain address. The address was uncertain due to the caller had to travel about ¾ of a mile down the road to call 911. The service in the area is very limited and has few residents as well. In the effort of calling, the dispatcher did make out that this was a wreck and immediately toned out for fire and rescue.

The incident unfolded differently when members arrived on scene. Due to poor radio communication for the area, the first member on scene was unable to give a scene size up. When the first ambulance pulled onto the scene, there found a two vehicle MVA, head-on collision, with three patients. At this time, the crew from the ambulance, along with the member already on scene, started assessing the patients for their injuries. Within minutes it was known that at least two Air Medicals would be needed and then later a third would be needed as well. An attempt to radio dispatch on handheld radios to inform them of the type of accident and request Air Medical, was unsuccessful. In the area where the accident happened, handheld radios were a challenge. In order to get through to dispatch, members and other units enroute, one person was placed with the ambulance so they could make contact to the appropriate person needed.

The challenge that day was definitely the radio communication between squads, dispatch, and other units enroute to scene. Once on scene, handheld radios could be turned to talk-around and used while in that area but once out of that area, it was difficult to communicate unless from an apparatus radio. Even though there were struggles and challenges with radio communication, there were no struggles with everyone working together as a team to help these patients get the care that they needed. Two of the patients had a simple femur fracture and the third patient had a double femur compound fracture, such, 2 vehicles, 3 patients, and 4 fractures. The outcome for these patients was all three were flown to a Level 1 Trauma Center in a nearby city that took about a 15-20 minute flight time.

In conclusion, there were 31 members from various surrounding departments, law enforcement and air medial that stepped up and came together that day as a community to save three lives. No matter the challenge, be radio communications or other, we are as one and will do right by humanity and the oath we took.

Dunlap Fire-Rescue has opened their doors and started bingo twice a month. The members volunteer to run the site and help raise money for our department in order that we may keep doing what we love to do for the citizens of Alleghany County. This also gives the citizens a chance to come out and enjoy social time with others and win prizes as well. We, as a volunteer department, are here for our community in many ways, as are others, so help support your local volunteer FireRescue department.