VIRGINIA LIFELINE
2013 NOVEMBER / DECEMBER
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VAVRS Chaplain TO: All Squads From: Darleen Ferguson, VAVRS Chaplain Date: 10/8/2013 RE: 2014 Memorial / Death Benefit Plan When you have a member to pass, please send the following information to the State Office and to my email (darleen.ferguson@yahoo.com). If you can, get an address or email address from the family. I will be able to contact the family about our 2014 Memorial Service and a photo if you do not have one.
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Please, at your next Squad meeting inform your members about the Death Benefit Plan and if you do not have information or forms please let me know, I will fax or email that information to you. The following Squads have lost members since August 31,2013: Danville Life Saving Crew Big Stone Gap Rescue Squad Clifton Forge Rescue Squad West End Vol. Rescue Squad Forest View Vol. Rescue Squad Stafford Vol. Rescue Squad I would like the above Squads to send the following information to the State
Office and to my email: Report Form of Deceased Member, Photo, Squad Patch, short narrative on deceased member and Death Benefit Plan Form. If your Squad lost a member during the time period of September 2012 - August 31, 2013 and you did not report the loss, please send in the above information so the member can be included in the 2014 Memorial Service. State Office email address : vavrs@vavrs.com State Office Fax #804-749-8910
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For a complete list of the current courses being offered by the VAVRS—go to www.vavrs.com
VAVRS Officers
THE VIRGINIA LIFELINE ISSN 0279-6023 is the official bimonthly publication of the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads, Inc.
President Rickey Hodge Vice President Connie Moore Secretary Scott Davis Treasurer Steve Grayson Training Officer Cecil Leach Chaplain Darleen Ferguson Historian Dreama Chandler Editor Gary Dalton Immediate Past President Edward B. Bish Jr. Legal Advisor S. Craig Lane Medical Advisor
James R. Dudley, MD, MBA
Parliamentarian Lobbyist Office Manager
J. C. Phillips
Ed Rhodes Frances Brooks
Training Coordinator Kathy Eubank Administrative Secretary
Editorial material should be sent directly to the VAVRS Editor at P O Box 522 Woodstock, VA 22664 (H) 540-459-4849 (W) 540-536-2758 (FAX) 540-459-4925 (C) 540-481-0125 Email-gdalton@vavrs.com
Shirley Bagby
District 1 V. P. Steve Southworth District 2 V. P. Carolyn White District 3 V. P. Kenny Frenier District 4 V. P. Gary Dalton District 5 V. P. L. Frank Smith
Requests for advertising rates, material specifications and deadlines should be directed to the Editor.
District 6 V. P. Doug Adams District 7 V. P. Coby Fizer District 8 V. P. Steven Reynolds
VAJVRS Officers President Cora Fearnow
District 9 V. P. Darrell Beavers
President - Sharon Campbell
District 10 V. P. George Langford
Vice President - Harry Householder Secretary - Dolores Hudson
Vice President Emily Snyder
Treasurer - Patsy Wingfield
Secretary/Treasurer Elizabeth Pittman
Chaplain - Ailease Short
Chaplain Montana Looney
Historian - Linda Berkstresser
Historian Danielle McCormick
Parliamentarian - Maxie Skeen
District 1 V. P. Emily Snyder
Immediate Past President - Fern Puckett
District 3 V. P. Cora Fearnow
Midwestern VP - Nancy Linkous
Advisor, Chair Alfred Smith
Northeastern VP - Debbie Smallwood
Advisor Woody T. Connor
Southcentral VP - Clara Craig
Advisor Brandon Baugus
Southeastern VP - Fay Browning
Advisor Woody Connor
Southwestern VP - Valarie Becker
Advisor Micky Grodski
Western VP - Debbie Rohr
Advisor Steve Dove Official
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VAVRS Committee Chairs Nominating: Bruce Stratton Membership: Connie Moore Human Resources: Connie Moore Life Membership: Ronnie Slough By-Laws: Bruce Edwards Rescue Hall of Fame: Ford Wirt Lifeline: Gary Dalton Conference: Ford Wirt Camporee: Ronnie Slough Finance: Steve Grayson Rescue College Co-Chair: Wayne Myers Rescue College Chair: Rickey Hodge EMS Advisory Board: Dreama Chandler EMS Advisory Board: Wayne Myers Strategic Planning: Karen Wagner New Course Development: Wayne Myers Scholarship: Carolyn Brand EMS Memorial: Kevin Dillard Recruitment and Retention Chair: Fran Phillips Recruitment and Retention Co-Chair: Bobby Hill Volunteer Management: A. Page Entsminger EMS Exchange Program: Jane Laverne Grant: Elizabeth Papelino Facility Manager: Lin Matthews Legislative Chair: Dreama Chandler Legislative Co-Chair: Edward B. "Bubby" Bish Jr. VRSAWG Chair: Bruce Edwards VRSAWG Co-Chair: Gary Dalton VRSAWG Co-Chair: Karen Wagner Web Page: Gary Dalton
Deadline for the Upcoming Issues of the LIFELINE
AVAVRS Committee Chairs
Articles may be submitted by any member of the VAVRS, AVAVRS and VAJVRS. Feature articles are encouraged. Photos and/or Graphics are acceptable and can be returned if requested. Contact the Editor if you need assistance in writing an article at gdalton@vavrs.com
Conference Chair: Vickie Arnold Conference Co-Chair: Sheila Gordon Nominating Comm. Chair: Ruth Swicegood Life Membership Chair: Carolyn Brand Emergency Care Chair: Laura Booze Resolutions Comm. Chair: Maxie Skeen Membership Chair: Harry Householder Finance Comm. Chair: Patsy Wingfield Roll Call Chair: Donna Porter Roll Call Co-Chair: Valarie Becker Fundraising Chair: Stacey Frame
Deadline for future issues as follows: December 10, 2013 for January/February Issue February 10, 2013 for March/April Issue April 10, 2013 for May/June Issue June 10, 2013 for July/August Issue Page
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November/December
2013
VAJVRS Casino Night—Great Success!
Submitted by Steve Dove The VAJVRS Casino Night held on Friday, September 27th during the 79th Annual VAVRS Conference in Virginia Beach was a huge success. While there was some skepticism as to whether the event would come through with last minute planning, it proved to be one of the best turnouts for participation by Junior’s in many years. On August 10, 2013 following the VAVRS Executive Committee it was realized that no event had been scheduled for the VAJVRS on Friday night. After learning this was not an oversight but a calculated decision based on minimal support for the success of the VAJVRS and lack of prior participation by the Junior Members themselves, efforts were made to rethink Official
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the decision not to conduct a Friday night social event. Plans were immediately put into action to seek donations for the cost of the Casino gaming
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tables and prizes for the event. Communications with various business and public safety agencies identified overwhelming financial support to maintain the viability of our future leaders and providers in the EMS System. At 8:00 p.m. on Friday night we were keeping our fingers
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crossed that with less than three weeks of planning, organizing, coordinating and marketing would pay off. It would not be long before our expectations were surpassed in the turnout that was present. Excitement filled the air as participants learned how to place bets at the Roulette table, they kept their cards out of viewing distance at the Texas Hold’ Em table while watching their opponents body language hoping to call their bluff and winning big at the Blackjack table. The object was to win big and for every $1,000 in winnings a raffle ticket would be given for a
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chance at one of the great prizes that had been donated. Most of the night was standing room only and the Juniors continued to comment throughout the event how much fun they were having. While the event was not limited to
those under twenty-one, many Senior members stopped by to visit, well we will say visit as that was their intentions, but an hour later they would be placing chips and glancing at cards themselves as they (Continued on page 8)
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VAJVRS Casino Night—continued (Continued from page 7)
joined in on the fun. At the end of the night everyone would receive a VAJVRS Water Bottle as a thank you for their support and attendance of the Junior Casino Night. On Saturday morning the chatter around the Junior Meeting was clear about how much enjoyment came from the Friday night Casino Night. Not only were they thrilled to have had such an event but they commented on how great it was to interact with the Senior members that came to play at the tables with them. While it is clear that next year’s event will need to expand, it is refreshing to know that the Junior’s still have pride in the VAJVRS. Sometimes change is all that is needed to motivate a group to look forward to the future and
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stop dwelling on the pitfalls of the past. We are proud to also say that this event was fully sponsored and did not cost the Association anything. With that said, a huge thank
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you goes out to those businesses that financially helped support this event. Without their generous donations this would have never been the success it was.
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Photos submitted by Steve Dove
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November/December
2013
HANDS-ONLY CPR SAVES LIFES !!
Submitted by Steve Dove Did you know that almost 70 percent of Americans feel helpless to act during a cardiac emergency because they don’t know how to administer CPR or they’re afraid of hurting the victim. This is why the Chancellor Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department has set out on a mission to teach as many individuals the two simple steps to saving a life (1) Call 911 and (2) Push Hard & Push Fast in the center of the chest.
someone by properly performing chest compression only to a victim in cardiac arrest. Studies have shown that Hands-Only CPR is as effective as conventional CPR for sudden cardiac arrest at home, at work or in public. It can double or even triple a victim’s chance of survival. Since the onset of this public education booth at various
events in the Fredericksburg region it has grown with request coming in routinely for the exciting hands-on training for kids. The program has been incorporated into the Jump Rope for Heart Event at area elementary schools. An appearance is made at the Annual Fourth of July Stars & Stripes Event in Spotsylvania County. A recent display of these simple life-saving techniques was held during the B101.5 Kids Convention at the Spotsylvania Towne Center. Our safety booth became an instant attraction during National Night Out. This valuable educational tool was also the inspiration behind the District 10 float during the 79th Annual VAVRS Conference Parade. The booth was one of the favorites of those that recently attended
When 89 percent of people who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest die because they don’t receive immediate CPR from someone on the scene, it is our role as public safety professionals to educate the society on what steps they can take to reverse this scary trend. In 2012 Chancellor Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department set up a short program to teach kids the two vital components of helping Official
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HANDS-ONLY CPR SAVES LIFES !!
an Open House at the Chancellor Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department during Fire Prevention Week. A display will also be done during The Kids EXPO held in Fredericksburg in February 2014. 80 percent of sudden cardiac arrests happen in private or residential settings, so unfortunately the difference you make will most likely be trying to save the life of someone you love: a child, a spouse, a parent or a friend. According to the American Heart Association, people feel more confident performing Hands-Only CPR if they see a teen or adult suddenly collapse. Page
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They are more likely to remember the correct rhythm when trained to the beat of the disco classic “Stayin’ Alive.” “Stayin’ Alive” has more than 100 beats per minute, which is the rate to push on the chest during CPR. To learn more about Hands-Only CPR visit the website heart.org/ handsonlycpr. Since nearly 400,000 out-ofhospital cardiac arrest occur annually in the United States it is important for the public to act in the first seconds of someone collapsing. Informational seminars and practice demos with hands on training can help save a life in your community. November/December
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District Five
District 5 did extremely well at the 79th Conference this year. The following were winners at the 79th Conference: EMT Contest: 6th place – Campbell County
District Scrapbook: 1st place
Submitted by Joan Smoot, District 5 Historian Hello again from District 5. We hope that everyone enjoyed Conference and had a safe and happy summer. District 5 would like to congratulate Lelia Johnson of Appomattox Rescue Squad and Ed Cook of Gretna Rescue for becoming District 5’s newest Life Members. Lelia and Ed were given the honor at the July District Meeting. Congratulations to both!
14th place – Southside South Hill ALS Contest: 5th place – Campbell County 7th place – Southside South Hill EVOC: 2nd place – Jason Morgan – Campbell County 4th place – John Smith – Southside South Hill 6th place – Michael Gee – Kenbridge Emergency Crew 8th place – Jamie Owen – Citizens Emergency Crew 10th place – Frank Smith – Appomattox County 19th place – Julie McCubbins – Danville EVOC Instructors: 9th place – Bob Marion – Danville Light Rescue Trust Contest: 1st place – Southside South Hill Heavy Rescue Trust Contest: 1st place – Southside South Hill Ambulance Contest: 5th place – Southside South Hill
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As you can see, District 5 took home a lot of gold, especially Southside South Hill. Congratulations to all of these winners.
We are extremely proud of the two members from our District that were honored with Life Membership into the VAVRS: Jim Fontaine of Monelison Rescue and Bruce Stratton of Concord. Both of these men have worked hard in our District and for the State for many years and are well deserving of this honor. We are proud to have them in our District and congratulate them both on this award. Our next District meeting will be on November 2, 2013 at Gretna. Hope to see everyone there. November/December
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Congressman Wittman Leads Medicare Ambulance Relief Discussion at LifeCare Medical Transports Submitted by Sue Connors, Training and Development Coordinator, LifeCare Medical Transports, Inc. Fredericksburg, VA (September 3, 2013) – On Thursday, August 29, 2013, Congressman Rob Wittman visited the corporate headquarters of LifeCare Medical Transports, located in Stafford County, Virginia, for an open discussion regarding the Medicare Ambulance Access Act of 2013. The Medicare Ambulance Access Act would extend the Medicare ambulance add-ons for five years giving Congress and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services time to address any necessary reform to the fee schedule. “We invited Congressman Wittman here to share our
Congressman Rob Wittman discusses The Medicare Ambulance Access Act with LifeCare employees. Official
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concern that the Medicare [Ambulance Access Act] expires in January,” stated LifeCare president Kevin Dillard. “We’ve already seen two cuts in funding—a 2 percent reduction a couple years ago, Congressman Wittman’s visit to LifeCare and another 2 Medical Transports on August 29, 2013. Pictured are: Joey King, VP of percent this year, so Operations; Team Leader Earl Cottom; we wanted to get Corporal David Stanley; Lieutenant Althea across the message Kidd; Congressman Rob Wittman; Sergeant that if we’re going Erica Cutrona; Kevin Dillard, President of to provide the level LifeCare Medical Transport. of service that everybody expects—having 1403, filed by Sen. Charles [vehicles] available when they Schumer, D–N.Y., would extend call, and the equipment needed existing Medicare for lifesaving—they’ve got to reimbursement rates for fund us properly.” ambulance transport until 2019. For more than a decade, private ambulance services have been depending on addons to Medicare reimbursements for patient transport to hospitals, doctors’ offices, dialysis and other destinations. The idea was to close the gap between the reimbursement amount and the actual cost of providing the service. But the bonus ends in January unless Congress extends it, as it has done each year since 2002. Senate Bill VAVRS
Meanwhile, the House and Senate are also looking at changes to the tax code to overhaul the way Medicare reimbursement payments are structured. Dillard says about half of patients using LifeCare ambulances are covered by Medicare. Medicaid and private funding account for the rest. “And there’s a significant amount of people with no [health] insurance, who can’t Page
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pay their bill at all,” Dillard said. “So it’s complicated.” He says if private carriers aren’t adequately funded, the impact also hits taxpayer-funded county and city services, and ultimately, taxpayers. If private suppliers have to cut back, localities that handle 911 transport calls will have to pick up the slack.” Wittman told the group he understands their concern, at a time when cost of all federal programs is under tight scrutiny by lawmakers. “It’s critical today to look at health care reform from top to bottom,” Wittman said. “And in the critical job you do in medical transport, we need to make sure that the reimbursements that come from Medicare” and statefunded Medicaid “are there so you can do your job.” With Medicare, “I want to make sure that we’re doing the proper things with the entire program,” he said, noting that
Congressman Rob Wittman meets with VP Danny Wildman and Corporal Etta Chambers in the dispatch center of LifeCare Medical Transports. Page
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the ambulance reimbursements are tied to federal health reform. “So, we’re looking closely at how those pieces fit together,” Wittman said, with the focus being a sustainable, long-term plan. After touring LifeCare’s Danny Wildman, VP of LifeCare Medical corporate facility which Transports explains the dispatching includes their process to Congressman Rob Wittman administrative offices; during the congressman’s visit to communications center; LifeCare Medical Transports. billing office; training center and automotive service Award for “Outstanding EMS center, Congressman Wittman Agency.” In 2012, LifeCare rode along in a LifeCare received the Virginia ambulance and visited the Governor’s Award for emergency departments of “Outstanding Contribution to Stafford Hospital, Mary Health and Safety.” Washington Hospital as well as the Lee’s Hill Free Standing Emergency Department. LifeCare Medical Transports was founded in the Fredericksburg area in 1994, and is now one of the largest Healthcare Transportation Providers in the commonwealth. In 1999, LifeCare co-founders, Kevin Dillard and Danny Wildman, received the Ernst and Young “Entrepreneurs of the Year” award. LifeCare provides both emergency and non-emergency medical transports; Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support; Critical Care transports; Pediatric and Neonatal Transport services. In 2007, LifeCare became the only private EMS agency to receive the Virginia Governor’s
Congressman Rob Wittman talks with LifeCare Medical Transport employees while on a ride-along during his August 29th visit to the company. November/December
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Important
District Six
VAVRS Events
Submitted by Doug Adams, District 6 Vice President Welcome, to all from your VP. It has been a while since I have had the opportunity to report to our member squads of District 6. I would like to thank each of you for the opportunity to work with you as Vice President again. I welcome the challenge to grow our numbers and keep you informed of the changes affecting us all. Changes or proposed changes that affect everyone happen all the time, it is important our organization are kept informed of these, as many may affect your operation. First of all if your Squad’s BOG is not attending the District meeting, now is the time to start! I invite all BOGs and any interested members to attend. I am sure you will not regret spending you afternoon learning the many important changes that may touch our squads today or in the near future. Our meetings are:
2014 VAVRS Instructor Update March 1, 2014 - Oilville
I look forward to seeing you there! Please give me a call if you need directions or have questions. WANTED: We are looking for a few good teams to re-start competitions again at District 6 meetings. Competition has been missing from District 6 for years and several people have expressed interest in having BLS / ALS teams compete! Please advise if your squad would like to bring a team. Training: Squads, if you have specific training needs that we can assist you with please feel let us know, we are here to assist you!
Spring BOG Meeting April 5, 2014 - Holiday Inn, Bristol, VA VAVRS Camporee May 16-17, 2014 - Buena Vista EMS Week May 19 - 25, 2014 VAVRS Rescue College June 6-15, 2014--Virginia Tech, Blacksburg IRECA 2011 Conference & Competition June 6-15, 2014--TBA National EMS Memorial Service June 28, 2014--Colorado Springs
Until next time! VAVRS Conference September 24-27, 2014--Va Beach
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Vinton
1 PM
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Snow Creek
1 PM
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Franklin County
1 PM
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Cool Branch
1 PM
VAVRS Executive Committee
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Vinton
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February 1, 2014 - Buena Vista
Virginia EMS Symposium November 11-15, 2014 -- Norfolk
April 4, 2014 - Bristol May 31, 2014 - Teleconference August 9, 2014 - TBA September 25, 2014 - Va Beach
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November/December
2013
2013 AVAVRS Auxiliary of the Year Award
Submitted by Sharon Campbell, AVAVRS President As Vice President of the AVAVRS in 2013 it was my privilege to chair the “Auxiliary of the Year” award committee. Many great entries were submitted but following is the winner from Loudoun County. In looking over their entry think of all the good things you have done for your squad/crew and send in your entry next year. Each of you belongs to an Auxiliary or Support Group that would qualify so go for it!!!! AVAVRS Participation: Members of the Loudoun County Vol. Rescue Squad Auxiliary (LCVRS) attend all District meetings which included hosting the November District 4 meeting. Conference was a very busy time for LCVRS Auxiliary with 14 members (represents 67% of our total membership) attending. We provided door prizes for the Friday Night President’s reception and door Official
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prizes for the various AVAVRS meetings. Additionally, many members acted as hostesses at Conference. We have newly formed competition team that competed last year at conference. They continue to practice, have competed at district meetings and are getting prepared to compete at 2013 conference, We have two members that are State Officers and two additional members that are District Officers. Our work did not stop at conference as we were able to provide financial assistance to three state officers and one district officer to be able to attend the Spring Officer’s Workshop and three members attend Rescue College, two as instructors. Service to the Community: Our service to the community covers many facets of support. We have one member who is an AHA-CPR Instructor. She assisted the auxiliary, senior squad and community by teaching 8 classes during the past year. To help us fund our projects we started a new fun fundraiser “Flamingo Flocking”. For a minimal cost you can purchase pink flamingos to adorn your friend’s yard. For those wishing not to have their yards decorated, insurance can be purchased to protect your property. Our largest VAVRS
fundraiser continues to be our ”Picture Project” that we have had for many years. The community gives a donation and in return is given an opportunity to have pictures taken with a free 8” x 10” photo. We continue with assisting Project Mobile Hope. This is a local non-profit agency that helps homeless teens in Loudoun County. We are continually accepting donations of clothes, coats, blankets and personal hygiene items to support them. In support of EMS families affected by Hurricane Sandy in NJ, we purchased $500.00 of needed supplies and had then delivered to them. Our members volunteered to help a local town with a 5K fundraiser “Sadie Smiles”. All funds from this race support the medical needs of children with cleft palates. The members assisted with set up of race, cheering on the runners, and handing out water and snacks. Four times this past year we assisted Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Training Center. Canteen 613 and members were on hand for EMS Family Day, Fire School Family Day and burn days. We supplied man power to assist with rehab and distribution of needed refreshments. These days were an excellent opportunity to promote ourselves within the system.
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Loudoun County VRS Auxiliary Recruiting Program: LCVRS Auxiliary has found over the last few years that the best way of recruiting members is through word of mouth by our members. We were able to gain four additional members this year. As a company we have also come to realize that the best morale booster is “food”. Almost all of our members have full time jobs and come directly to our meetings so it can be difficult to keep everyone’s attention when they are hungry during a long meeting. To help solve this problem we have assigned each member as a committee chair each month, they set up the room and provide dessert for each meeting. In December we provide a ham and rolls for the Squads annual Santa Party and we host a special dinner for the Life Members of Senior Squad and Auxiliary to say “Thank You” for all the time that they have provided to us. This dinner concludes with a Christmas ornament exchange which all attending enjoy very much. The greatest moral/ recruiting continues to be our Annual Awards Banquet held in January each year that the Auxiliary host for Senior squad members and guest, Auxiliary members and guest, and special community member guest.
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Service to Squad: All funds we have raised have been to support the Senior Squad with various functions including annual banquet, grounds maintenance during the spring, summer and fall months, cleaning the floors and carpets in the station twice a year, gifts for all senior members during EMS week, supplying all of the candy for the local Halloween parade (still marked as the largest Halloween parade on the East Coast) and supplying food and beverages for severe weather and large scale fire/ems events. We have also assisted out Squad on many calls and standbys providing food and refreshments. This past years events have been: Super Spartan Run Race, Leesburg Air Show, Hurricane Sandy, Thanksgiving Dinner, Christmas Dinner, Snow Storm (March), House Fire (May), a Bomb Threat (June) and the Leesburg July 4th parade/ fireworks events. This year we made an effort to do something fun for our crews and sponsored a few holiday related activities. These activities were a Pumpkin Carving Contest and Gingerbread Decorating Contest. The crews were given the needed supplies and give specific time frame to complete. The entries were
judged and winning crews were given gift cards to help purchase their meals while on duty. Valentine’s Day they were given a special sweet treat. Easter brought a treasure hunt. Easter Baskets full of goodies were hidden in various areas of the building and each crew had to find their basket. The nightly crew had a lot of fun looking for their specific basket and some even found other crews and then rehid them. We have several members who are First Responders or higher and assist in running calls and doing stand-bys with the Senior Squad. Every year during EMS week we give a special gift to all members of the Auxiliary and Senior Squad as a small token of appreciation for all the time (Continued on page 21)
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Fall Activities—Cave Spring RS Auxiliary Submitted by Sharon Campbell, The members of the Cave Spring Rescue Squad Auxiliary had a busy couple of weeks as September came to a close and October began. As usual we had the mad rush to finish our scrapbook and get it to the AVAVRS Historian prior to the deadline. We made it with that final push to get it finished. After that it was time to get things in order so that we could attend the 2013 AVAVRS Conference in Virginia Beach. Patsy Wingfield, Vickie Arnold, Karla Sprouse and Sharon Campbell were looking forward to the relaxation of the beach, good food and seeing old friends and making new ones. I personally wish the weather had been a little warmer and not so windy but…… Thursday found us rushing from one meeting to the next as several of us attended the Officer’s Luncheon, the Officer’s meeting and then the first conference meeting with all of the delegates. Then it was time for the opening ceremony and I must say the speaker was incredible. Bright and early on Friday morning the AVAVRS Life Members met for breakfast and then headed for the Friday Morning Delegate’s meeting. Later that evening we headed down to watch the VAVRS Parade. At times the wind was so strong it was Official
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difficult to stand in one place. Great parade with wonderful equipment displayed by the volunteers from across the state. Saturday morning found us up bright and early to attend the AVAVRS Saturday Morning Breakfast. After breakfast we began our meeting with a service to honor those we had lost in the past year. Clara Craig, AVAVRS Chaplain did a beautiful job. Awards were also on the agenda and I am proud to say the Cave Spring scrapbook placed 2nd in competition. Congratulations to Bridgewater on placing first, Loudoun County placed 3rd, Colonial Beach placed 4th and Campbell County was Honorable Mention. Also congratulations to the District Scrapbook winners, the Southeastern District placed first and the Southcentral District placed 2nd. All of the books were absolutely beautiful and show how dedicated the members of the auxiliaries are to their men and women. We also offer congratulations to Donna Porter from Campbell County who was awarded Life Membership in the AVAVRS VAVRS
and Nancy Linkous from Christiansburg who received the “Outstanding Service Award. Saturday night we attended the Installation and Award Celebration. Sharon Campbell was installed as the 2013-14 AVAVRS President, Patsy Wingfield is the incoming AVAVRS Treasurer and Vickie Arnold was appointed as the AVAVRS Convention Chair. We rushed home from conference to get ready for our major fall fundraiser. October 5th we sponsored our Chicken Barbecue, It was a beautiful, hot day and we appreciate all of the support we got from current and former crew members, Crew Life Members, the auxiliary and friends and family. We normally figure that approximately 1000 of our dinners are take out with 200 eating at the crew hall. I don’t know what the difference was but we had more than 200 eating at the crew hall and they were laughing and joking with us and each other and it made for a fun evening for all. Camilla Cabiness made her usual 30 plus desserts and at times the people were three deep choosing what they were going to have for dessert after eating chicken, green beans, coleslaw slaw, and a roll. We will realize a profit of approximately $4,000.00. We Page
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did have some leftovers which we donated to The Rescue Mission. Hopefully the men, women and children who participate in this ministry enjoyed the food. The Master Gardeners continue to meet at the crew hall each Tuesday and Thursday. This provides PR as the majority of the class attendees are from the Cave Spring area. This project will end the first of November. The Auxiliary is at the crew hall the entire time the group is meeting so that we can offer assistance and make sure that no one treads where they should not go. We continue to service the crew by providing refreshments following each of their business meetings and also handling the correspondence from crew donations. Our fall activities will keep us busy and we look forward to our continued work with the volunteers from Cave Spring.
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and effort that they give the community. This year the gift was a lawn chair in a bag that could be used for stand-bys, ball games, picnics, etc. As we do every year, we assisted during EMS Week with the Annual Open House. The Auxiliary table included games for the children, safety materials for families to take home and provided hotdogs, popcorn and snow cones as refreshments. We sponsored face painting for all and clowns that made balloon animals for the kids. Increase Community Awareness: In a community where people do not understand how valuable
an asset a volunteer organization is, it is difficult sometimes to increase awareness to the community. We try our best by assisting the Senior Squad at various functions including providing the candy and participating with our families in the local town Halloween parade, providing safety materials, child safety lollipops, kid safe prizes and games at open house. Also at our various fundraising events we have members in attendance to hand out safety materials and talk to community persons about the Auxiliary and Senior Squad. All this is done to promote our organization and show the difference we makes in the lives of those we serve.
AVAVRS Secretary Submitted by Dolores F. Hudson, AVAVRS Secretary It was so good seeing each of you at the conference. I want to thank each of you that worked so hard to make the Conference great. Thanks to the VAVRS, the vendors, and
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all who supported the AVAVRS. I am secretary again this year and I thank each of you for working with me. I ask each of the officers, if you change presidents during the year to please send your changes to me so I can keep an updated list.
“Congratulations to all award winners!� November/December
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VAVRS President Submitted by Rickey Hodge, VAVRS President As I left the Va. Beach Resort Hotel on Sunday, I had so many thoughts going thru my head. On Saturday night, I was sworn in as President of the most awesome grass roots Volunteer Organization in the Commonwealth of Virginia. I also was honored to be chosen as a Life Member. This is like Christmas in September. However, I was so thrilled and honored to present to Page Entsminger the title of Chaplain Emeritus. I had prepared a speech to tell all of you what you already knew about this fine man, then I got choked up and had him come on up. He has no idea that this was being presented to him at all. Today, I was at the General Assembly Building along with Ed Rhodes for a Stake Holders Meeting with various Fire/EMS Leaders from all over the Commonwealth. This Association is a key player to EMS in Virginia. As I write this article, I am at the Office in Oilville meeting with the Office Staff. One matter that has become clear is that our members want a different approach to our Conference with no increase in registration. We have all heard where our income comes from and yet the majority of you that responded to the survey given at the Official
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conclusion of the BOG meeting still do not want to pay anymore than you are paying. So with that said I have tasked the Conference Committee with reporting back to me new ideas for revenue and a different Conference. I can tell you that they have responded and I will be reporting to the Executive Committee on Nov, 2nd of their ideas and motion to move forward. As I think back there are a number of people that have always supported me in whatever I was doing for the Association. First and foremost Kelly Walters. Kelly has been in the background of many many endeavors that Wayne Myers and Ronnie Slough have tricked me into doing. As Gary Dalton calls them –Challenges. I look back and call it “Railroading”. Anyway, No one person can achieve great things without a tremendous support group. I have been so fortunate to have just that. I have my Mom and Dad to thank for getting me into the Rescue Squad. I was taken at a very young age to the Firehouse and this has been my life. When my Dad would go on calls, I would ride with him to the station and wait for him to come back. While waiting, I would read the First Aid Bulletin and it had so many stories of other Squads across Virginia. It was an upbringing second to none. My VAVRS
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Mom was very active in the Auxiliary and held many offices. In 1969, they went to Nelson County for efforts of Hurricane Camille. So I am a lucky person. I have held different offices in my squad and am very proud of the fact I had the opportunity to broaden my Squad to the point of using more members to get the job done. Wayne Myers was the Chief and our Squad was struggling with having enough members to answer calls. That
has now changed and I am so very proud of how my Rescue Squad operates. I feel we have the best there is. I am so proud. I have said all that to say this. I have a tremendous passion for this Association and I believe we can make some changes here for the way we do things and in the end it will be better than ever. I don’t want to hear gloom and doom anymore. We are approaching 80 years as an Association and while I can’t say for sure, but
I’m pretty sure that Mr. Julian Stanley Wise in Roanoke, Va. did not see us stopping helping people. So as General George S. Patton Jr. said “I don’t want to hear that we are holding our position, we need to be constantly moving forward”. Let’s all “move forward” and never forget why we got on the Rescue Squad to begin with. I look forward to visiting with each and every Member and our District Meeting in the future. That is all.
2013 Scholarship Winners Submitted by Carolyn Brand, Scholarship Committee Chair Scholarship Winners 2013 Julian Stanley Wise Scholarships, $1,000 each David D. Jones Honors College at Old Dominion Studying Marine Biology/ Oceanography Waynesboro Auxiliary (grandmother – Connie Jones) Brianna N. Ryan James Madison studying Health Sciences Danville Life Saving Crew (Father – Gary Ryan) Fred E. Weymouth, II Scholarship, $1,000 Kelsey R. Langford Christopher Newport studying Forensic Science Brooke Volunteer F&R (Father – George Langford)
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Sylvia & Garry Clatterbuck Scholarship, $1,000
Anne J. Gwaltney Memorial Scholarship
Matthew J. Tatum Liberty University Emergency Services Horsepasture VRS
Christopher M. T. Anderson Virginia Tech Studying, Pre-Med Colonial Heights Fire and EMS (Mother – Karen Anderson) November/December
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The Legislative Attic Submitted by Ed Rhodes
In beginning to compose this article for you, I decided to put in a newer picture of the "ATTIC". Not too many changes other than new paint and a set of crutches to the left of the chair. Right after conference, I had knee surgery and am still hobbling along with the metal helpers. Oh, well, I should be at least up and moving about better in a few weeks. I am also looking out the windows this morning and seeing a cold front moving this way, leaves are falling, beginning to rain and wind is blowing. This front will produce storms in the afternoon, and the remains of a tropical storm are coming up the coast. Cooler temperatures are in order, must be fall, about a month late. During the conference in September, I made some remarks concerning the Affordable Care Act or ACA. Letters have been faxed to the Virginia Congressional Delegation, our Senators, and the Secretary of Health. The issue was very simple - waive the requirement for volunteer rescue squads having to provide health care insurance for members who serve over 30 hours per week and have over 50 members. Here is a paragraph from an article Official
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provided by the National Volunteer Fire Council:
"The basic problem is that the IRS considers volunteers to be common law employees of the agencies that they serve. PPACA, commonly referred to as “health care reform” or “Obamacare,” requires large employers to provide full-time employees with health insurance coverage. Because the IRS considers volunteers to be employees and it falls to the IRS to enforce the Employer Shared Responsibility Provision of the PPACA, the NVFC believes that many fire departments could end up facing penalties starting in 2015 if they do not offer health insurance benefits to their volunteers."
and from the Congressional Research Center document "The potential employer penalty applies to all common law employers, including an employer who is a government entity (such as federal state, local, or Indian Tribal government entities) and an employer that is a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income taxes."
Therefore, you can see that our member organizations need to be worried. The implementation of the employer portion has been extended for a year, with the new effective date of December 31, 2014. What can you do? Your VAVRS
The “Real” Attic Legislative Committee will be forwarding to the District Vice Presidents and Officers speaking points for you to use in writing letters, e-mails, etc. These will have to go to your Congressmen in Washington, by e-mail or fax. Regular mail will take too long. Committee members will be visiting your district meetings, myself included, to hopefully try to explain what is happening and answer questions. The first meeting of the Fire/ EMS Legislative Caucus took place on October 10th. Our President was in attendance for this meeting. Representatives from the other EMS and Fire organizations were also present along with four legislators. In addition, one member of caucus has been appointed to chair the House Transportation Committee, Delegate Tom Rust of Loudoun County has been a constant supporter of EMS legislation over the years and patroned bills for the EMS community. A number of items Page
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were discussed, including the Line of Duty Act, interest funding, training issues and so forth. Over two hours were spent in this meeting. Regulations are moving forward to take care of the pharmacy legislation or "drug box" bill that will do away with signatures at the time of exchange. The Board of Pharmacy has met and their regulation is moving forward, with one part going into effect while we were at conference. OEMS has submitted their regulatory change to the EMS regulations and that is currently in the Attorney General's office. The regulation change for the EMT recertification waiver is also working its way through the regulatory system and may be signed and in effect by the end of the year. It is currently in the Secretary's office awaiting his signature. In closing, my wife and I certainly enjoyed seeing everyone during the conference in September and renewing friendships. Congratulations to the new officers and we are looking forward to working with you. General Assembly begins in January and your officers, VAVRS, AVAVRS and VAJVRS have been invited to a day during the session to meet with legislators and attend meetings. This upcoming session is the "long" session, 60 days or more, and we will have a full plate of issues to deal with Page
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during this time. Any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact anyone on the Legislative Committee. Happy Holidays!
Photo Courtesy of David Bailey Attendees at the Fire/EMS Legislative Caucus Meeting VAVRS President Rickey Hodge—2nd from Left VAVRS Lobbyist Ed Rhodes—6th from Left
Photo Courtesy of David Bailey Attendees at the Fire/EMS Legislative Caucus Meeting November/December
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Lake of the Woods Rescue Hosts VAVRS by Lee Frame, Member, LOW Rescue Squad If you drove by the LOW rescue Station on Sunday, August 18, you may have noticed a number of unfamiliar ambulances parked there. No, it was not a mass casualty incident, but a meeting of District 10 of the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads (VAVRS). The LOW Rescue Squad hosted that meeting, which was attended by 42 people representing 11 separate rescue squads and members of the state VAVRS organization. VAVRS is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting member rescue squads and other agencies in providing rescue functions and rendering emergency pre-hospital care for patients. It was organized in 1935 and today represents 329 volunteer EMS agencies, rescue squads, fire departments and specialty agencies with over 18,000 members. VAVRS promotes and assist member rescue squads in improving care by providing training, improving communications, promoting legislation, and recognizing prehospital providers. Official
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Photo by Lee Frame VAVRS District 10 Vice President George Langford and other District 10 members welcomed to LOW by Rescue Squad Chief Steven Calleja. In addition to the formal business meeting, Deputy Fire Chief Mike Jones of the Fredericksburg Fire Department, presented a training session on firefighter rehabilitation. The major cause of firefighter deaths during and after a major fire, hazardous material incident, or strenuous training is a heart attack. Rehabilitation during the incident can prevent many of these deaths. Careful medical monitoring and treatment by emergency medical technicians are a critical element of the rehabilitation. This training session addressed issues such a time limits under VAVRS
stress, rest and recovery, hydration, cooling or warming, vital sign monitoring, and standards for release back to the incident scene. This was a very useful course taught by a very effective instructor. Another element of the meeting was a competition on basic life support between teams from the different rescue squads. The teams were evaluated and scored by Debbie Krug from the LOW Rescue Squad. The team from Madison County took first place and the Colonial Beach team was second.
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Junior Squad of the Waynesboro FAC Submitted by Zachary Stachowski, Junior Secretary Hello to everyone from the Junior Squad of the Waynesboro First Aid Crew. We went to Covington for our District 1 Meeting and Competition where we took 1st place Jr. EMT. Thanks to our members, Danielle McCormick and Victoria Gaudin for attending the Spring BOG. In August, we had a car wash at Willy's for a fund raiser. We are still working on recruiting
new members. We hold our meeting every second Tuesday of the month where our Advisor Susan Sweet brings us all pizza. Our Junior EMT Team practiced very hard for competition at the VAVRS Conference this year in Virginia Beach. It all paid off because we took 1st place. Congratulations to Danielle McCormick, Shannon Cain, Victoria Gaudin, Tara Morrison, and Zachary Stachowski and a big thank you to our couch,
Susan Sweet and everyone who helped us train. We also took 2nd place with our Junior scrapbook. Congratulations to Danielle McCormick for being sworn in for VAJVRS Historian.
Waynesboro FAC Auxiliary Submitted by CeCe McCormick Historian Hello again everyone from Waynesboro, We have had a great summer with our Auxiliary Picnic in July. And in August we did a 50 year class reunion for Wilson High School, what a great time for everyone. Our Senior EMT Team took us and the Auxiliary out for Chinese one night for dinner what a wonderful time we all had. Our picture project is in Page
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full swing and thanks again to our Cindy Banks for all her time and hard work for making this event a great success. We continue to go out once a month for our Auxiliary members birthdays. We have been to Pano's in Harrisonburg and in town Outback is one of our favorites. We continue to cook for our squad for Drill's on the first Thursday of the month dinner and Friday morning breakfast. We cooked dinner
for our Free Clinic one night and delivered it to them they are always glad to see us. We cooked for The Masons in September when they give their ladies a night out . So after all that business we all packed up and headed for Virginia Beach for Conference. What a great time we all had. Congratulations to all the teams in District 1 for all the trophies they brought home this year. November/December
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Virginia Beach Rescue Explorer Post Training
Virginia Beach Rescue Squad Volunteers at Hunt Club Standby
Honor Guard Caleb Fields & Charlie Gurley in Cadillac
VAVRS 79th Annual Conference Shirt Ocean Park Rescue Squad Ambulance Display Fall Festival
R&R Ambulance in Crowd
Virginia Beach Rescue Command Rock & Roll Race
Standby Crew at Diabetes Walk Official
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Dr. Cynthia Romero, VDH at VAVRS Opening Ceremony VAVRS
Virginia Beach EMS Bike Team Rock & Roll Standby Page
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Virginia Beach Rescue Squad Parade Units & Crews
Virginia Beach Collage Submitted by Bobby Hill Davis Corner Rescue Squad Recruiting Fund Raising Farm Fresh
Patient Assist Diabetes Walk Page
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Friends of SAR washing squad & ambulance at VB Rescue Squad Station
Bobby & German Medic at VBRS Station 14
Japanese visitors check out Marine Rescue Team Boat November/December
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Madison County Celebrates 50 Years Submitted by Dave Mickelberry EMT-B, Madison County Rescue Squad, Inc. Madison County Rescue Squads (MCRS) history is rich and varied as the area of the Piedmont in which Madison County sits. Madison County was granted a charter in December 1792 well after the earliest colonists had settled the area. It was named for the Madison family that owned a tract of land along the Rapidan River. This family produced one of our nation's early presidents, James Madison, whose estate is in neighboring Orange County. Madison County has been a crossroads of history for over 11,000 years. Paleo-Indians, the royal governor Alexander Spottswood and the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe, as well as Civil War Generals Stonewall Jackson and J. E. B. Stuart along with their men have all been visitors to Madison County. October 2013 begins the 50th year of the Madison County Rescue Squad. On our golden anniversary, the mission, passion and purpose remains the same as it was in the beginning, to provide Madison County superior pre-hospital emergency basic and advanced life support to our neighbors, our hometown community. MCRS is committed to Official
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providing outstanding emergency medical care and ambulance transport to the residents and visitors of our community. To celebrate our golden anniversary, a dinner was held on October 5, 2013. Charter members from as far away as Florida were in attendance as were current members of MCRS, State and Madison County dignitaries. All were treated with a wonderful dinner of prime rib and shrimp, salad, side dishes, desserts and beverages. In addition, all in attendance received a reusable cloth bag and first aid kit to take home and put to good use. Our friends from Greene County Rescue Squad were in attendance to respond to any calls in the county while the dinner was going on so all members of MCRS could enjoy the night’s activities without any worries of answering calls for a few hours. So MCRS would like to say “THANK YOU” to our friends from Greene County Rescue for filling in for the duty crew for a few hours. MCRS is honored to have 2 of the original charter members from 1963 still active and running today; Marjorie Lamar (Medic 52) and Paul Coates (Rescue 37). Paul can be found on the sidelines of every home high school football games as our first responder to the field
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if an athlete is injured. Marjorie can be found at her families drug store in the heart of Madison, working behind the counter and waiting for the call, if a Medic is needed, to come out and respond to her community. It is an astonishing accomplishment for Marjorie and Paul to continue to answer calls week after week with MCRS for 50 years, that`s 2600 weeks or 18250 days! Marjorie and Paul were presented with mantle clocks for their accomplishment and the county also presented them with a resolution in recognition of fifty (50) years of dedicated service to the County. MCRS is also pleased to have two (2) Virginia Life Saving and Rescue Hall of Fame members in our organization, John Fray and 2013 inductee Steve Grayson.
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Madison County VRS Celebrates 50 Years MCRS, as an organization, was presented with a Virginia Senate Joint Resolution No. 418 Commending the Madison County Rescue Squad. Resolution No. 418 reads in part: …“WHEREAS, for a halfcentury, the Madison County Rescue Squad has provided outstanding professional care to the residents of Madison County and the surrounding area and was recognized by the Virginia Department of Health in 1993 as the best rescue squad in the state; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Madison County Rescue Squad on the occasion of its 50th anniversary; and, be it
to the Community and MCRS”. MCRS member and EMT-B Michelle Patterson said “I thought the banquet was wonderful. I'm very glad I was able to attend. It was especially nice to see Mr. Paul Coates and Mrs. Marjorie Lamar given the recognition they deserve for not only being charter members, but continuing to serve on MCRS for the entire 50 years. That is such an amazing accomplishment! Michelle went on to say “I know a lot of rescue squads have gone under in recent years especially and been taken over by career agencies. I think that MCRS making it to 50 years shows what a strong community Madison County has.
I think it shows that the residents of Madison County have a dedication to looking out for each other in selfless service. Being a member of the Madison County Rescue Squad since 2008, I am very proud of what a strong organization it is, and how much support it receives from the community. I think the Madison County Rescue Squad is an important part of the community. I joined because I was interested in giving back to the community and I had a friend on the squad that encouraged me to take the EMT class and join. It's a decision I will never regret. I hope to continue running as long as I can because it's very rewarding to help others in need, and the friends I've (Continued on page 32)
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Madison County Rescue Squad as an expression of the General Assembly's congratulations and admiration for the squad's commitment to serving the community.” Marjorie L. summed it up best when she was presented with the Resolutions from the General Assembly and County, “I have gotten more out of it than I have put into it, service Page
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Madison County—continued (Continued from page 31)
made the MCRS are very important to me.” Madison County Rescue Squad, our first 50 years… It took until July 1963, when two members of the community met with members of the Madison County Jaycees to discuss the possibility of forming a rescue squad for the county of Madison. Up until this time, any emergencies MCRS, as an organization, was presented with a Virginia Senate Joint Resolution No. 418 Commending the Madison County Rescue Squad. Resolution No. 418 reads in part: …“WHEREAS, for a halfcentury, the Madison County Rescue Squad has provided outstanding professional care to the residents of Madison County and the surrounding area and was recognized by the Virginia Department of Health
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in 1993 as the best rescue squad in the state; now, therefore, be it
MCRS for the entire 50 years. That is such an amazing accomplishment!
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Madison County Rescue Squad on the occasion of its 50th anniversary; and, be it
Michelle went on to say “I know a lot of rescue squads have gone under in recent years especially and been taken over by career agencies. I think that MCRS making it to 50 years shows what a strong community Madison County has. I think it shows that the residents of Madison County have a dedication to looking out for each other in selfless service. Being a member of the Madison County Rescue Squad since 2008, I am very proud of what a strong organization it is, and how much support it receives from the community. I think the Madison County Rescue Squad is an important part of the community. I joined because I was interested in giving back to the community and I had a friend on the squad that encouraged me to take the EMT class and join. It's a decision I will never regret. I hope to continue running as long as I can because it's very rewarding to help others in need, and the friends I've made the MCRS are very important to me.”
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Madison County Rescue Squad as an expression of the General Assembly's congratulations and admiration for the squad's commitment to serving the community.” Marjorie L. summed it up best when she was presented with the Resolutions from the General Assembly and County, “I have gotten more out of it than I have put into it, service to the Community and MCRS”. MCRS member and EMT-B Michelle Patterson said “I thought the banquet was wonderful. I'm very glad I was able to attend. It was especially nice to see Mr. Paul Coates and Mrs. Marjorie Lamar given the recognition they deserve for not only being charter members, but continuing to serve on VAVRS
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Madison County—continued discuss the possibility of forming a rescue squad for the county of Madison. Up until this time, any emergencies were handled by the local county doctors; however they had no way of transporting patients to the hospital. A member of the Jaycees offered an ambulance and $100.00 contribution for them to get started. Within the week, the Madison Jaycees voted to endorse the Madison County Rescue Squad as a project. On August 14, 1963, the Jaycee committee with 75 people in attendance, held a community meeting. A motion was made that the Rescue Squad should be organized. The motion was seconded and received a unanimous vote of approval. At that time, approximately 25 people made application for membership. On August 29, 1963, a 1955 Pontiac ambulance was received. It was taken to Hitts Grocery in Aroda where it was cleaned, sanded, painted and lettered. On September 9, 1963, a First Aid class began at the Madison Fire House. Members of the Orange Rescue Squad taught the first class for the community and potential members of MCRS. The final class was held September 23. On October 22, 1963, Judge Russell Yowell installed the Page
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first slate of officers and the Madison County Rescue Squad was born. The newly minted MCRS volunteers accepted the MCRS Constitution and By -laws and heard the Treasurers report of $893.95 in the bank. MCRS had no building to call its own, so the ambulance was parked behind the county courthouse. In 1963, 911 dispatchers did not exist; it would be almost 4 years before central dispatching was put into operation in Madison. Dispatchers for the rescue squad were volunteers who took calls in their homes and business. When a call was received, volunteers took the information down and contacted the members on duty via telephone and they met at the courthouse parking circle and ran the call. It took almost 40 days before the first call came in for MCRS. It happened on November 29, 1963, for a motor vehicle accident at the Robinson River Bridge. Three members for the squad responded. Since that first call the dedicated volunteers of MCRS have answered over 80,000 calls for emergency
medical services. Once MCRS was established the next 10 years brought on many changes. MCRS ordered their first ambulance in April 1964; a 1964 Chevrolet Carryall ambulance for $4565.00. MCRS ordered received a new ambulance in July 2009 for close to $175, 000.00. How times have changed! In July 1966, MCRS joined the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads, Inc. and have been a proud member to this day. MCRS continues to compete in BLS, and various extrication contests held by the association each year. May 1967 the Ladies Auxiliary of Madison County Rescue Squad was formed and April 1969 brought the first purchase of a building to be used for MCRS. This continues to be the building we occupy today. Finally March 1973, 25 members completed the first (Continued on page 35)
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Madison County—continued 2013 SESSION SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 418 Commending the Madison County Rescue Squad. Agreed to by the Senate, February 21, 2013 Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 22, 2013 WHEREAS, the Madison County Rescue Squad will proudly celebrate its 50th anniversary of providing outstanding volunteer emergency medical services to the citizens of Madison County and the surrounding communities on October 5, 2013; and WHEREAS, on August 14, 1963, a Madison County Jaycees committee held a community meeting that approved the organization of the Madison County Rescue Squad with 25 individuals applying for membership; and WHEREAS, over the course of the next month, the Madison County Rescue Squad received a 1955 Pontiac ambulance from community member, Carlton Clore, and started a first aid class at the Madison Fire House; and WHEREAS, on November 29, 1963, the Madison County Rescue Squad ran its first call for an auto accident at Robinson River Bridge on Route 29; and WHEREAS, in 1966, the Madison County Rescue Squad joined the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads, and the following year members taught first aid classes to Greene County Rescue Squad members; in 1967, a ladies auxiliary was formed to support operations; and WHEREAS, over the years, Madison County Rescue Squad members continued to receive the latest training, with 25 members completing the first EMT course in 1973 and 17 of those members participating in the first Certified Shock Trauma pilot course offered by the Virginia Department of Health in 1978; and WHEREAS, in 1981, the Madison County Rescue Squad purchased cardiac equipment with eight members becoming state certified as EMT-Cardiac in 1982; and WHEREAS, the Madison County Rescue Squad also has encouraged emergency preparedness among local residents and came to the aid of community members following disastrous flooding at Graves Mill and other sections of the County in 1995; and WHEREAS, for a half-century, the Madison County Rescue Squad has provided outstanding professional care to the residents of Madison County and the surrounding area and was recognized by the Virginia Department of Health in 1993 as the best rescue squad in the state; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Madison County Rescue Squad on the occasion of its 50th anniversary; and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Madison County Rescue Squad as an expression of the General Assembly's congratulations and admiration for the squad's commitment to serving the community. Official
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Madison County—continued EMT course. The next 25 years for MCRS continued to bring on change with 17 members of the squad passing the Certified Shock Trauma course in March 1978. This was the first class in Virginia recognized by the Virginia Health Department. The squad was able to pay off the mortgage for our building in June 1981 and September 1981 brought about the purchase of an ambulance specifically designed for cardiac use was purchased for $35, 000.00. June 1982, eight members completed the state certified EMT/Cardiac course. 1985 MCRS started a satellite unit in the village of Etlan to provide a quicker response to the far northwest end of the county near Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park and the Old Rag Mountain area. This satellite unit was staffed by MCRS members living in the area and would serve Madison County for more than 20 years. 1993 brought from the Commonwealth of Virginia, a Best in State Award according to the Virginia Department of Health. 1995 brought about the worst flooding Madison County had ever seen in the Graves Mill area of the county. This flood became known as one of the 100 year floods, coming around every 100 years. The flood Page
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actually took the sides of our local mountains down in landslides and it took Mother Nature years to recover the area that was flood damaged in 1995. MCRS participated in the rescue, cleanup and what needed to be done during the following these disastrous floods. The turn of the century continued to bring change to MCRS as well. MCRS began working with the local High School to put on a Mock Car crash to show the dangers of Drinking and Driving during the prom season (our last Mock Car Crash video is on our website under Photo Gallery), we started the first ever MCRS website in 2001 (madisonrescuesquad.org) with a re-launch of our website in 2008 maintained by one of our junior members and another relaunch in 2012. Renovation to our building took place, new radios were purchased, LifPak 12’s were added to our arsenal, a new response vehicle was purchased, 2 new ambulances were ordered and delivered and in 2014 MCRS will receive another new ambulance which is currently being designed, we began holding a Halloween party for the children of the community as part of the Trick or Truck county wide event, MCRS purchased 12.5 acres of land on North Bound Route 29,
just 1 mile from our current building for a new building and at the 2013 VAVRS Conference brought our second member to the Virginia Life Saving and Rescue Hall of Fame member from our organization, 2013 inductee Steve Grayson. On October 13, 2013, MCRS held an Open House for the community with equipment demos of the LUCAS II Systems and LifPak's along with free handouts for the children who attended. We also showed off our trucks and heavy extrication unit. UVA also provided the Pegasus Critical Care Ground Unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. MCRS also did blood pressure checks along with providing snacks and drinks. MCRS volunteers provide Basic Life Support and Advanced Life (Continued on page 36)
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2013—2014 Members of R&R Committee Submitted by Fran Phillips, Chair VAVRS R&R Committee If you have ideas you would like to share, on either Recruitment or Retention, let us know. Each VAVRS District should have a person designated to help their district with R & R issues. Those on the VAVRS Recruitment & Retention Committee for 2013 - 2014 are listed below. Fran Phillips, Chair Post Office Box 1118 Midlothian, VA 23113 Cell Phone: [804] 794-5208 Email: rs1va@aol.com
The VAVRS was not able to give a “Thank You” gift this year to those who were registered at Conference because of VAVRS budget issues. Also, the Recruitment & Retention Committee has been cut to two persons, Bobby Hill and me. We hope that in the future that we can again expand the committee to include a person from the Auxiliary and Junior Associations. If Bobby or I can help you with R & R issues or give you suggestions, give us a call or email us. Thank YOU for your continued service to the citizens of Virginia and the VAVRS.
Bobby Hill, Co-chair 740 Virginia Beach Blvd. Virginia Beach, VA 23451 Phone: [757] 647-2789 Email: recruitment@vbrescuefoundation.org not because they are worthless; It is because they are PRICELESS. We can only offer them sincere thanks for going on yet another emergency call in the middle of the night. The hearts of each of these
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Support to the entire County of Madison, which is a grand total of 322 square miles. Members have come and gone over the past 50 years, however the mission remains the same for each and everyone, to provide Madison County superior pre-hospital emergency basic and advanced life support to our neighbors, our hometown community. MCRS is committed to providing outstanding emergency medical care and ambulance transport to the residents and visitors of our community. As volunteers with MCRS, we can't pay them; it Official
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volunteers is not measured in size, but by the depth of the commitment to make a difference in the lives of others. Here’s to another 50 great years. Happy 50th Anniversary,
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The Places We Will Go—AVAVRS President Submitted by Sharon Karlet Campbell, AVAVRS President I am thrilled that I was elected as the 2013-14 AVAVRS President and look forward to “Oh, the places we will go”. All of your elected and appointed officers look forward to taking this journey with you. Congratulations to the members of the Newport Rescue Squad Auxiliary and the Saltville Rescue Squad Auxiliary as the newest members of the AVAVRS. We welcome you to the AVAVRS family. In looking over the 2012-13 Scrapbooks, I am sure the
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judges faced a challenge in choosing the winners. They were all beautiful and showed the hard work and dedication each of you gave your squad. Bridgewater placed first in the competition with Cave Spring placing second, Loudoun County won third place with Colonial Beach placing fourth and Campbell County winning Honorable Mention. As you can see there are some new names there, so it proves anyone can be a winner. Next year I would love to see some more new names. Donna Porter from Campbell County was awarded Life Membership in the AVAVRS.
Donna has worked for many years in different levels of the AVAVRS and we congratulate her. Christiansburg’s Nancy Linkous received the “Outstanding Service Award”, an honor that was much deserved. The “Auxiliary of the Year” award was won by Loudoun County. I find my calendar filling up fast with meeting notices and events and I look forward to seeing each of you as I travel around this great state. Always remember I am just a phone call away and all of the officers of the AVAVRS want to work with you to make this organization grow.
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Colonial Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad Is Most Decorated Squad at VAVRS Conference Submitted by Sara Hunt,
Senior Public Relations Manager Touch Points Public Relations Colonial Beach, VA (Oct. 7, 2013) – Colonial Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad claimed the highest number of awards at the 79th Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squad (VAVRS) Conference, held recently in Virginia Beach, Va.
Fourth Place to the CBVRS Support Team for Auxiliary Scrapbook Seventh Place for CBVRS’ EMT Team
At the awards banquet, CBVRS won the following honors:
“The VAVRS’s mission is to promote and assist member rescue squads in improving prehospital care in Virginia,” said
First Place for ALS Call of the Year, for treatment of an elderly man who was having a heart attack on a boat and was flown to Mary Washington Hospital from Colonial Beach
Wesley Melson, Rescue Chief for CBVRS. “We were honored to be recognized in so many categories at the annual awards banquet, especially for our creativity with the flash mob and for the EMT Team’s seventh place finish—our highest finish ever!”
First Place for “Website of the Year” Second Place for “Promotion of Safety” Second Place for “Parade Entry” for a 25-person flash mob promoting Hands-Only CPR Second Place for “Best Decorated Float” Second Place for CBVRS’ Support Team EMT Third Place for “Scrapbook” Third Place for Non-Instructor EVOC – Wesley Melson Fourth Place for Instructor EVOC – Mike Nance Official
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ABOVE: Members of Colonial Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad perform in a “flash mob” to promote Hands-Only CPR during the parade for the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads’ annual conference in Virginia Beach. CBVRS won a Second Place award for their creative performance.
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Longtime CBVRS Member Named to VAVRS Rescue Hall of Fame Submitted by Sara Hunt,
Senior Public Relations Manager Touch Points Public Relations Colonial Beach, Va. (Oct. 7, 2013) – J. Carlton Hudson, a member of Colonial Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad (CBVRS) for almost 60 years, was entered into the Hall of Fame for the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads (VAVRS) at the organization’s recent 79th Conference in Virginia Beach, Va. During his 56-years of active service to CBVRS, Carlton has held nearly every office in the squad. Most notably, he served as captain of CBVRS for eight consecutive years from 19781984. Then, after a two-year break, he was again elected captain for an additional two years.
Along with his service to CBVRS, Hudson has served as vice president of District 8 for two years, and as a rescue officer for District 10 for three years. Other VAVRS positions included serving on the nominating committee for District 10 as well as for the VAVRS. He has served as VAVRS Sergeant-of-Arms for many years. At the 2012 VAVRS Convention, it was determined that Hudson is the oldest active life member of the VAVRS. Involved with CBVRS since the organization began, Hudson and several other members worked to acquire land and to design and build the squad’s first building, during which he carried blocks and mixed mortar. Since that time, he has served on the building committee of the squad, including the current efforts to build a state-of-the-art facility for the community. He has represented CBVRS on every disaster and relief committee in the Colonial Beach area since Hurricane Hazel in 1954 and has been instrumental
in the evacuation and rescue of many people through the years. He assisted in the birth of 12 babies on the road to the nearest hospital. Also, he organized many training packages including sessions in mass casualty, water rescue and cliff repelling, among others. His vast experience has helped in the organization of squads in Westmoreland, Lancaster, Montross and Mountain View. Also, he helped to organize the Colonial Beach Junior Volunteer Rescue Squad and remained active with the juniors through 2011. “We are very proud that Carlton was named to the VAVRS’ prestigious Hall of Fame, which recognizes the best of the best in the field of emergency rescue,” said Wesley Melson, Rescue Chief of Colonial Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad. “As a trusted and valued member, he continues to assist our squad and the VAVRS in any way that he can. It’s a real honor and privilege to have someone like Carlton Hudson on our team!”
LEFT-Carlton Hudson (in white shirt), longtime member of Colonial Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad, accepts the plaque naming him to the prestigious Hall of Fame for the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads. He is accepting the award from VAVRS President, Edward "Bubby" Bish.
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4th Annual Fall Rescue Camp for Kids Submitted by Steve Dove On September 7th VAVRS District 10 held the 4th Annual Fall Rescue Camp for Kids at the Fredericksburg EXPO & Conference Center. Over fifty kids ranging in ages from 8 to 18 years old participated in this year’s camp. Participants were paired in five groups that would attend breakout seminars throughout the day. Excitement filled their eyes as they watched the Ladder Trucks from Fredericksburg Fire Department and Spotsylvania Volunteer Fire Department along with the Squad Truck from Orange Rescue Squad setting up the Zip-line from the roof of the EXPO Center. Meanwhile many adults were skeptical about going into the conference room where the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries was presenting a seminar on the snakes found in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The kids however where thrilled to be able to meet two of the constrictors and have an opportunity to hold these docile reptiles.
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As camp coordinators we believe it is important to provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation training. This year was no different as the participants were guided by Beth Addington of Chancellor Volunteer Rescue Squad and Thomas McGowan of LifeCare Medical Transports in the proper techniques of providing CPR to adult patients. Participants learned to push hard and push fast interrupting compressions for less than ten second’s to give the patient to breaths. The lecture also covered how to help an adult patient relieve a foreign body airway obstruction. Wesley Melson and Chris Kerns with the Colonial Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad
Next door in another conference room The Bug Box from Spotsylvania County Official
had a lecture period on insects that proved to be just as hairraising for most of the adults. The kids enjoyed the hands-on exposure to Grubs which many kids referenced to their appearance on the Lion King. There was also time to meet some Madagascar hissing cockroaches, a jungle scorpion and a tarantula.
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spent the day allowing the participants to operate an ATV through evolutions marked with traffic cones. This proved to be challenging for many kids who have not yet obtained their drivers license. The participants soon learned that maneuvering a vehicle was more challenging in real life than in a video game simulation. Despite this, laughter could be heard at the mini EVOC range all day as the traffic cones where not upright the majority of the time. In another conference room the kids would be learning the safe handling of firearms presented by SSG Tactical in Fredericksburg. Kids were told what to do if they came upon a firearm and how to notify the proper authorities. Maintaining a safe distance and keeping others away from weapons was a universal theme throughout this seminar. Page
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The morning breakout sessions were clearing out to make way for the afternoon sessions while the kids enjoyed lunch provided at the EXPO Center. This gave kids a break to compare notes with other groups and finish their team posters they had begun earlier in the day. The Zip-line and ATV EVOC course would continue through the afternoon so each participant had a chance to take part in those activities. Additionally other seminars were set up for the afternoon. Beth and Thomas would set up a station teaching participants how to properly immobilize a patient to a long board immobilization device. After successfully immobilizing the patient the kids would place the patient on the stretcher and maneuver the stretcher through a short cone course.
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set up a maze in a conference room which the kids would be blindfolded and work together as a team through the maze. Kids learned that even when working in an environment with (Continued on page 42)
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4th Annual Fall Rescue Camp for Kids (Continued from page 41)
limited or no visibility they could still move around obstacles working as a team. George Langford District 10 Vice President with Protection Plus out of Newport News provided a seminar on the use of fire extinguishers. Kids learned the PASS method of putting out fires with an extinguisher. They were able to Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the simulated fire, Squeeze the trigger and Sweep back and forth at the base of the fire. The message was reinforced through the presentation that if the fire was too large or could not be contained with a fire extinguisher the kids needed to leave the environment and get help. We are currently in the planning stages of the 5th Annual Fall Rescue Camp for Kids. Next year’s camp will be held on Saturday, October 11, 2014 at the Fredericksburg EXPO & Conference Center. Any agencies that would like to sponsor this event should contact Steve Dove at smd604@aol.com for details.
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Information about the 5th Annual Camp will be on our website at www.vavrsdistrict10.com in the
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German EMS Workers Visit Mary Washington
Reprinted from a September 13th, 2013 article that appeared in The Free Lance Star, Fredericksburg BY BRIDGET BALCH The halls of Mary Washington Hospital echoed with the mingling of English and German Friday as five first responders from Germany toured the medical facility. MWH is the first stop on the 2½ week exchange program hosted by the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads. “We just want to improve relations between EMS providers across the globe,” said Kevin Dillard, president of LifeCare Medical Transports, Inc., who has been involved in the program since its inception in 1996. Sporting cargo shorts and black polo shirts with their names on the front and the phrase “Different nations, same heartbeat” on the back, the four paramedics and one policeman met with hospital staff and officials, who walked
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them through the hospital’s command center, helicopter landing pad, intensive care unit, emergency room and trauma resuscitation room. The Virginia volunteer rescue squad organization and the Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, or the German Red Cross, take turns sending a handful of first responders to visit the other country and observing firsthand how emergencies are handled on the other side of the ocean. “I’m very interested in the American way to treat trauma patients and to see how the rescue squads are working here,” said Sabrina Onimischewski, who is a paramedic and studying medicine in Germany. “I’m very impressed. It was so exciting to see all the different parts of [the hospital],” said Onimischewski “We’re very proud to host them,” Dillard added. “Usually when they leave they’re just so excited about what they’ve seen here they take back a lot of great ideas.” The visiting responders will go to various hospitals, police
stations and fire departments in Virginia before ending their time in the states at the volunteer group’s convention in Virginia Beach. To make the exchange more affordable, volunteers have opened their homes, and in one case their rescue station, to provide meals and lodging. “We really rely on the volunteer rescue squads to help support this,” said Robert Truoccolo, one of the coordinators of the exchange program, who spent three weeks in Germany. The exchange is not all about work though. The visitors will also be getting a taste of American culture by seeing the sights in Washington, D.C., and spending time at Busch Gardens.
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Photo Caption Contest
Below are the submissions for captions for this photo of an attendee at the VAVRS Rescue College and VAVRS Training Officer Cecil Leach….
Submitted by VAVRS Life Member Mel Ayers , “Who’s going to explain to Bubby what happened to his car?” Submitted by Kathy Hodge-Davis, “OK, let me get this straight-I asked you to change the diaper on the baby in the car seat and you heard me say put a diaper on the mini-van???” From Tommy Eberhardt, “I see parallel parking is not you thing, let’s try the serpentine now.”
In each of the 2013 issues VIRGINIA LIFELINE we have been having a photo caption contest. This is our latest submission and we are soliciting your humorous captions to this photo of a participant in the Virginia/German Paramedic Exchange Program and Program Coordinator Jane Laverne at the VAVRS Conference Awards Ceremony. All entries will be printed (after censoring). Official
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District Three
This picture is the Third District Colonial Heights Fire & EMS first place award for Best Appearing Heavy Rescue Truck in the conference parade. Pictured from left to right are Stephen Hoke, Will Smith, Drew Comstock and Kenny Frenier.
Submitted by Cindy Swann, District Three Historian Hope everyone had a good time at the Conference and had a safe trip home. Between meetings I sat in on some of the classes and thought they were real good as always.
First Place EVOC Instructor David Tesh from Forest View Volunteer Rescue Squad. Official
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After our Friday BOG meeting, Gary Brown, Mike Berg, Warren Short, Scott Winston and others from the OEMS held an
Fifth Place EVOC Non-Instructor Walter Bishop from Colonial Heights Fire and Rescue
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open forum. A lot of important information was covered and discussed. Talked with some of the others that attended the forum and they felt the same way. District 3 received quite a bit of recognition this year and will begin with Kathy Eubank who has held the position of VAVRS Training Coordinator for 25 years and has been with Manchester VRS for 35 years. During that time she held different offices including President. Thanks Kathy for all of your hard work. Outstanding VAVRS Officer of the Year – Edward (Bubby) Bish, our Past VAVRS President and is with Southside Emergency Crew. Scholarship Awards – Anne Gwaltney Memorial, went to Page
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Chris Anderson who is with Colonial Heights and is planning on going to Va. Tech, and taking Pre Med. Competition- Emergency Vehicle Operation (Non Instructor) 5th Place – Walter Bishop, Colonial Heights. (Instructor) 1st place – Dave Tesh Forest View Advanced Life Support - 2nd Place, Forest View. VAJVRS, EMT Contest – 3rd Place, Forest View. 2nd Place – Southside Emergency Crew, Petersburg. Parade Awards that were
received by District 3: Best Appearing Quick Response/Support Unit-2nd Place went to Hopewell Emergency Crew. Best Appearing Ambulance-4th Place went to Hopewell. 3rd Place went to Forest View VRS. Best Appearing Rescue Truck 1st Place went to Colonial Heights Fire & EMS. Hope I haven't forgotten anyone. Thanks to all of you for a great job. We look forward to seeing you November the 2nd at Henrico VRS for our next District meeting.
Important VAVRS Events 2014 VAVRS Instructor Update March 1, 2014 - Oilville Spring BOG Meeting April 5, 2014 - Holiday Inn, Bristol, VA VAVRS Camporee May 16-17, 2014 - Buena Vista EMS Week May 19 - 25, 2014 VAVRS Rescue College June 6-15, 2014--Virginia Tech, Blacksburg IRECA 2011 Conference & Competition June 6-15, 2014--TBA National EMS Memorial Service June 28, 2014--Colorado Springs VAVRS Conference September 24-27, 2014--Va Beach Virginia EMS Symposium November 11-15, 2014 -- Norfolk VAVRS Executive Committee
VAJVRS EMT Second Place Southside Emergency Crew, Petersburg L-R Heather Thompson, Team Captain Nick Hranowskyj, Angela Yoo, Kaitlyn Foster Page
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February 1, 2014 - Buena Vista April 4, 2014 - Bristol May 31, 2014 - Teleconference August 9, 2014 - TBA September 25, 2014 - Va Beach November/December
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The 60 Second Parliamentarian Tip It is Election Time again ..... The secretary is asked to cast a unanimous ballot for all unopposed candidates in an election. I continue to get questions about this subject and how it should be stated in squad bylaws. Voting members have three fundamental rights, to vote for something, to vote against something and to abstain. When a secretary cast a unanimous ballot, he or she votes for all of the voting members present at that meeting. Some members do not want the secretary to vote for them, but if it is stated correctly in the organization’s
bylaws, then there is nothing he or she can do about it because it is the will of the membership by being in the bylaws. The membership cannot ask the secretary to cast a unanimous ballot if it is not covered in their bylaws. How you state this in your bylaws is very important
not have to do this. A voting member can request a ballot vote for all unopposed candidates. Remember, in your bylaws words used like shall, must, or will, are rules that have to be followed and there is no getting around their meaning.
If your bylaws state that your secretary shall, or must, or will cast a unanimous ballot, then he or she has to do this. However, if your bylaws state that your secretary may, should, or ought to cast a unanimous ballot, then this means that the secretary does
Bee Smart and Learn CPR! Submitted by Sara Hunt
Buzzy, the B101.5 mascot, learns Hands-Only CPR at the booth sponsored by Chancellor Vol. Fire & Rescue at the B101.5 Kids Convention, held on Saturday, Sept. 14. Kids practiced this important life-saving technique on foam dummies and received instruction on other safety skills from CVFR members Steve Dove, Ayrton Castillo and Thomas McGowan. Official
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Christiansburg Rescue Squad Auxiliary Submitted by Nancy Linkous Members from the Auxiliary of the Christiansburg Rescue Squad in attendance at the 2013 annual conference were Anita Fizer, Sheila Gordon, Brenda Brennan, Pat Bryant and Nancy Linkous. Christiansburg’s Auxiliary received the Midwestern District Award for best attendance at district meetings during the past year. Nancy Linkous received the AVAVRS Outstanding Service Award. At the Saturday night installation of officers, Sheila Gordon was installed as Co-
Chair of the 2014 Conference Committee, Nancy Linkous was installed as the AVAVRS Midwestern District Vice President and Coby Fizer, Life Member of Christiansburg’s Rescue Squad, was installed as Vice President of the VAVRS District 7. Members of Christiansburg’s Auxiliary continue to be active in the Midwestern District with Pat Bryant as Secretary/ Treasurer, Anita Fizer as Parliamentarian, Brenda Brennan as Historian and Kristie Woolwine as EMT Chair. Members also serve on various
committees at the State level. The auxiliary continues to support its squad during the year with various projects. One of the projects of the auxiliary during the past year was to purchase new furniture for the Crew Hall with funds from their annual picture campaign. The 2013 picture campaign will start in October.
Pictured Left to Right: Anita Fizer, Nancy Linkous, Pat Bryant, Sheila Gordon, and Brenda Brennan Official
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Dear Rescue Ranger Dear Rescue Ranger, My wife and I are celebrating 15 years together this week. We met when both of us joined the rescue squad, fell in love and it has been a great 15 years serving the community and loving each other. Happy in Staunton Dear Happy, Congratulations. My wife and I have had a similar experience. She and I were happy for almost 20 years, then we met. Dear Rescue Ranger, I was studying my EMT lessons recently and decided to take a break and read a book of poems. I read something that really puzzled me. Why did the cow jump over the moon? Tommy G Dear Mr. Gwaltney, Because the farmer had cold hands. Dear Rescue Ranger, I believe I work hard, clean the trucks, check equipment and restock supplies when I return from each and every call. Recently I have had a hard time concentrating. I feel distracted and just can’t give 100%. How do you do it? Ken Dear Mr. Cook, I do give a 100% every week….23% on Monday, 23% on Tuesday, 40% on Wednesday, 10% on Thursday and 4% on Friday. Works for me!
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Dear Rescue Ranger, You are the greatest EMS mentor I have worked with. You are wise and have more knowledge about patient care than anyone I have met. How does one obtain both knowledge and wisdom at such a high level? Jane Dear Ms. Laverne, First you must understand the definition of both words. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit…Wisdom is not putting a tomato in a fruit salad Dear Rescue Ranger, We had a longtime member just walk out of a meeting last week. As a new member sometimes I can’t understand why people can’t just get along. Stephen Dear Mr. Richardson, Please remember that some people cause happiness wherever they go….others whenever they go. Dear Rescue Ranger, The government shutdown really caused havoc. Some squads didn’t get paid for almost a month, couldn’t get supplies, on and on…it was just a big mess. I can’t wait for the next national election so we can make some changes. I don’t think a politician can change their own diapers. Ed Dear Mr. Rhodes, VAVRS
You are correct. Politicians and diapers do have two things in common. They should both be changed regularly and for the same reason. Dear Rescue Ranger, I have a feeling that I am on shaky ground here at the squad. No one talks to me, officers ignore me and I can’t seem to get my feet firmly on the ground in this agency. Do you have any suggestions? Bubby Dear Bubby, If you keep your feet firmly on the ground, you’ll have trouble putting on your pants Dear Rescue Ranger, I need your advice. Mystery Man Dear Bubby, Never get into fights with ugly people, they have nothing to lose. Also, women should not have children after 35. Really…35 children are enough And, you don’t need a parachute to sky dive, you need a parachute to sky dive twice. One more, a clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory
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PO Box 279 2535 Turkey Creek Road Oilville, VA 23129 ISSN 0279-6023 Phone: 804-749-8191 Phone: 800-833-0602 Fax: 804-749-8910 E-mail: vavrs@vavrs.com
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Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads, Inc.