Want To Help? Get Involved!The rescue squad needs drivers and EMTs
To be a Regular member of the White Oak Volunteer Rescue Squad you must be certified in Virginia as either:
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Drivers Needed!Ambulances are much more than just big mini-vans. To become an ambulance driver, you need to take the Commonwealth of Virginia's Emergency Vehicle Operator Class (EVOC) and pass both a written and driving test for Class 2 emergency vehicles. The class usually consists of two 3-hour lectures and one full day to practice driving the ambulance and take the driving test. (By the way, passing EVOC can lower your "points" and your insurance premiums!) For more information and area classes visit:
Stafford County Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services
Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services
Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads Become an EMT!Learn how to save lives- become an EMT! The Commonwealth of Virginia currently recognizes several levels of training for Emergency Medical Technicians: EMT-Basic
EMT-Shock Trauma*
EMT-Enhanced
EMT-Cardiac*
EMT-Intermediate
EMT-Paramedic
* EMT-Shock Trauma and EMT-Cardiac are being phased out in favor of EMT-Enhanced and EMT-Intermediate Everyone starts out at the EMT-Basic level. People certified at the EMT-Basic level, (EMT-B's) provide "basic life support." Some of things that EMT-B's can do are: give patients several types of medications, perform CPR, shock a patient in cardiac arrest, deliver a baby, immobilize a patient with a head or back injury.
The class you take to become an EMT-Basic consists of 110 hours in the classroom, plus 10 hours observing in a hospital emergency room. At the end of the class, you must pass the state certification exam. The state exam consists of a written, multiple-choice exam and practical scenarios in which you must perform key skills. Classes are offered by different rescue squads in the area and by the Stafford County EMS office. The other certification levels provide "advanced life support" which means they are allowed to give a greater variety of medications and perform invasive procedures (like start IV's and intubate patients) that EMT-B's are not. The EMT-Shock Trauma and EMT-Cardiac certifications are currently being replaced by new EMT-Enhanced and EMT-Intermediate certifications. Our members are undergoing additional training to be certified at the new levels. The highest certification level is the EMT-Paramedic certification. For more information on the requirements for each certification, go to the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services website. For more information and area classes visit:
Stafford County Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services
Rappahannock Emergency Services Council
Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads Become a MemberRegular members of the squad commit to three shifts each month. Because the county has paid EMS staff to cover during the weekdays, we are generally only staffed on weeknights and weekends. Weeknight shifts start at 6pm and end at 4am (so that volunteers working at night can make it to their regular job on time). We are staffed from Friday night at 6pm until Monday morning at 4am. The Friday and Saturday night shifts are from 6pm to 8am. The Saturday and Sunday day shifts are from 8am to 6pm. You may submit an application for membership even before you are certified to treat patients or drive an ambulance. We have several levels of membership: Junior Member, Associate Member, and Regular Member. Junior members are young people between the ages of 16 and 18 who are CPR-certified. Junior members can enroll in the EMT-Basic course and become a Virginia-certified EMT-Basic. The only restrictions placed on our Junior Members is that they cannot be certified as "Attendant-in-Charge" until they reach their 18th birthday. Associate Members are members who support our organization but do not commit themselves to the three shift per month requirement of our Regular members. There is no requirement for Associate members to be certified EMTs or drivers. The only requirement is to support the Rescue Squad. Squad members will vote on your application at a business meeting. Business meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month. When you submit your application for Regular membership, we will need copies of your certifications. This includes your CPR card, your EMT and/or EVOC certification, and a copy of your driving record from the DMV (if you are applying as a driver). Membership Application If you are not sure whether or not volunteering with the rescue squad is right for you, we can make arrangements for you to ride along as an observer. In order to ride along, you must be certified in CPR. For more information on becoming a member or arranging for a ride-along, please e-mail the squad's Chief George Shepard.
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