Joining BVRS

The path to become a member of the Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad starts with an Application of Interest, which will be reviewed by the Personnel Committee to determine if an opening is available based upon qualifications and availability. Once submitted, an interview will be scheduled with members of the Personnel Committee. Your background and interests will determine your membership status. There will be a DMV check of driving record, a background check, and contacts with references, per the application.

If accepted by the Personnel Committee, an onboarding weekend will be scheduled to cover all the basics of joining the squad. The required two-day orientation covers the history of the squad, expectations and regulations, issuance of an ID, email, and uniform, and an introduction to the various disciplines.

New members will serve a probationary period of 6 months that will include training and evaluation of suitability for membership. As a member, there are expectations that everyone must abide by. All members shall participate in Squad activities and present a positive image of the squad. In addition to answering calls, they must be willing to help with special projects, standbys, community events, and public relations events. Voting members are expected to attend all business meetings; non-voting members are also encouraged to attend.

The various levels of membership have hourly commitments of duty/training per month, calculated quarterly. Each level of membership has its own set of benefits according to the level of time and commitment involved.

Full Membership is available to those who participate in a recurring duty group (regularly scheduled time to be at the station on duty; this includes EMS providers and Technical Rescue members who are cleared drivers). There is a requirement to clock 40 hours/month total, with 16 hours/month in a recurring duty group, 16 hours/month of additional duty group or other approved squad-related activity, with the remaining 8 hours met through any squad-related activity. Full members are eligible to vote at business meetings and can run for a squad officer position. Full members earn 1 credit per year of service towards life membership and have top priority for squad-related training, equipment, and uniforms.

Associate Membership is available for those in the EMS division or the Technical Rescue division and also applies to Junior members (16-18 years old). There is a requirement to clock 20 hours/month total. EMS providers must have 16 hours/month in a recurring duty group. Technical Rescue members can clock time either in responses or training. Time can also be counted for participation in approved squad-related activities. Associate members earn ½ credit per year of service towards life membership, may not vote on squad business, may not hold office, are afforded some training opportunities, and are eligible for some equipment and uniforms.

There are two levels of Support Membership, Technical Rescue Support and Administrative (non-operational). Both require 10 hours/month total commitment, with the Technical Rescue hours clocked either in responses or training. Support members earn ¼ credit per year of service towards life membership. They may not vote on squad business or hold office, and are eligible for limited training opportunities, equipment, and uniforms.

Junior Membership is available for candidates between the ages of 16 and 18 and enrolled in high school or equivalent. Interviews for Junior Squad membership shall be conducted with the Personnel Committee, the candidate, and their legal guardian(s). If recommended for membership by the personnel committee, the Senior squad will vote to accept or reject the candidate. Juniors are considered Associate Members when determining service requirements.

What to Expect 

If you join as an EMS member, either as a certified provider or as someone in the EMT class, you will be a part of a duty group. Full and Associate members are in a recurring duty group, which can be a minimum of eight (8) recurring scheduled hours every other week, or four (4) recurring scheduled hours every week. Some duty groups have been together for months (or years) while others have members come and go as personal schedules change. Members of a duty group are expected to clock in and be available in the station at the start of each shift and work their entire shift (although there is latitude for family emergencies, sudden illness, and other contingencies).

At a minimum, a duty group will have a provider and a driver (who may or may not be a cleared provider). Depending on the time of day and day of the week, there may be more people available in the station. The first team is expected to respond to all EMS calls for services as dispatched by the New River Valley dispatch center. A call may be a non-emergent response to a sick person to an emergent response to a heart attack, along with a paramedic and the field supervisor. A whole 4-hour shift may go by with no calls at all.

While at the station, there is a lounge with comfortable chairs, work tables, and a large-screen TV with cable, various streaming services, and several gaming consoles. There is a full kitchen, a fitness center, a study room, and lawn chairs for enjoying warm weather on the patio or on the front apron.

When there is a call, it is announced in the station and displayed on the screen in the lounge. It is also broadcast via radio and sent to the Active911 smartphone app. The first team is expected to respond to the call and will receive information about the patient from NRV dispatch while en route. At the scene, the AIC (Attendant-in-charge) will direct the team as to what equipment is needed, who should do what (check blood pressure, set up the monitor, etc.), and provide primary patient care. Depending on the situation, the patient may be transported to the hospital or the patient may decide they are OK and refuse transport (as is their right). Once the call is complete (typically when clear from the hospital) the team will return to the station to clean and restock the ambulance, write the required report, and get ready for the next call.

If you join as a Technical Rescue member, your status and availability will depend on your discipline(s). For example, members in Search and Rescue need to be prepared to respond to a search call-out at any time of day or night. You will be alerted by the Active911 app by an in-house technical rescue dispatcher about the search. There will be a Google Chat group with details; this is also where you will report your availability to respond (or not, it is your choice), and to keep the dispatcher apprised of your travel to and from the search location, which might be several hours away.

If you are in another discipline, for example, extrication, you should monitor the rescue squad calls on Active911 for a motor vehicle crash with entrapment. The crash truck may be needed along with a crew to respond to the scene.

Depending on a call, such as a vehicle over an embankment or a need for addition lift assist to move a patient, a call may go over the A911 chat asking for additional manpower.