March 11, 2011
Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad Members Honored in Graduation Ceremonies
Members of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, one of the nation's most advanced and best-trained rescue squads, were honored in graduation ceremonies at the Montgomery County (Md.) Fire and Rescue Training Academy today. Nine Rescue Squad volunteers were recognized for completing training programs to become emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and firefighters.
Rescue Squad Volunteer Carl Cowan completed 982 hours of classwork to attain Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P) status. EMT-P certification is the highest level of medical training for pre-hospital care providers at the Rescue Squad. EMT-Ps are trained to treat life-threatening conditions and administer specialized drugs to patients experiencing health emergencies. Skills include cardiac monitoring, 12-lead EKG interpretation, and administering IVs.
Five Rescue Squad volunteers – Justin Ackerman, Madeline Blank, Vanessa Damm, Hannah Sherman, and Jessica Steinbeck – completed the Emergency Medical Technician-Basic program. EMT-B is the first level of formalized medical training required for all Rescue Squad volunteers. The training program consists of 131 hours of classroom time, in-hospital clinical requirements, and testing, in addition to countless hours spent riding Rescue Squad ambulances on actual emergency calls. EMT-Bs perform a variety of skills, including patient assessment, basic life support, and use of automated external defibrillators.
Volunteer Vanessa Damm carried on the Rescue Squad tradition of academic excellence by receiving the prestigious Richard B. Thompson Award for top academic performance in her EMT-B class. Ms. Damm’s name will be engraved on a plaque that hangs in the Training Academy and carries the names of EMT class top finishers (including many Rescue Squad members) stretching back more than 30 years.
Rescue Squad volunteers Eily Hayes, Thomas Lowery, and Udana Torian completed Montgomery County’s rigorous Firefighting Class. The 162-hour course consists of extensive classroom instruction as well as physically demanding practical training, including live firefighting exercises. Training includes not only extinguishing fires, search and rescue techniques, and incident command, but also skills needed to address a variety of emergency situations involving hazardous materials, electrical equipment, fire alarm and sprinkler systems, and many others.
All Rescue Squad volunteers and staff receive professional training and exceed state standards, in addition to completing our rigorous in-house training programs.
