With over 8,000 Service Calls in 2014, Harrisonburg Rescue Squad Breaks New Record
Harrisonburg, VA (PRWEB) March 17, 2015 -- In 2014, the Virginia all-volunteer Harrisonburg Rescue Squad (HRS) was dispatched to a record-breaking 8,161 calls for service - an average of over 22 calls per day. With this level of call volume, HRS is constantly investing in additional classroom and clinical training for its volunteers, as well as new equipment and equipment upgrades to save more lives.
Being one of the most frequent call types in 2014, traumatic injuries accounted for 17 percent of total calls received. This type of injury results from traffic crashes, falls, sports injuries, assaults, construction accidents, gunshot wounds, stabbings, and more. In order to provide the best possible care to these patients, HRS continually invests in innovative and life-saving trauma tools, such as Israeli bandages and Chitoguaze, which can drastically reduce the severity of life-threatening injuries.
Respiratory emergencies are also a very common call, and include patients suffering from asthma, pneumonia, emphysema, congestive heart failure (CHF), choking, and other medical emergencies that restrict the patient’s ability to breathe normally. These patients are often treated with medications or a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine that opens the airway and reduces the stress on the patient’s heart and lungs. HRS invests $1,200 into each CPAP machine, which dramatically improves the condition and respiratory function of many of these patients. Additionally, HRS has the ability to provide nebulizer treatments or high-flow oxygen to less severe respiratory emergencies.
Emergencies such as heart attacks, irregular heartbeats, and other cardiac issues are included in the chest pain call type. The primary tool used by EMS providers to diagnose these problems are cardiac monitors, commonly referred to as “EKG machines," which cost the agency $23,000 per unit. Providers use the monitor to analyze heart rhythms and, if there is a problem detected, provide defibrillation or other electrotherapy treatments to the patient.
The majority of the 8,000 calls received by HRS each year require EMS providers to have advanced training. This training requires extensive class and clinical time by the volunteers, on top of their everyday jobs. Classroom and clinical training can take up to 780 total hours over a course of as many as 36 months. HRS allocates budget dollars each year to keep their staff trained and prepared for any emergency.
Harrisonburg Rescue Squad is a 100% volunteer agency that holds itself to the highest standards of performance. With an ever-increasing call volume, HRS must invest in its members' training, equipment, and response units (ambulances, chase vehicles, and heavy rescue equipment) so that their volunteers can continue to provide the excellent patient care that the Harrisonburg-Rockingham community deserves. HRS anticipates 2015 to be another record-breaking year.
People interested in donating can visit http://www.rescue40.org/donate.
About Harrisonburg Rescue Squad:
Harrisonburg Rescue Squad (HRS, also known as Rescue 40) is an all-volunteer EMS agency that provides service to Harrisonburg, VA, as well as parts of neighboring Rockingham County. HRS owns and maintains a full fleet of ambulances, response vehicles, a Heavy Rescue Vehicle, and a Mass Casualty Incident Response Unit. Rescue 40 has over 160 active volunteer members and each one is vital in responding to approximately 8,000 calls-for-service per year.
HRS offers new member training, emergency driving certification, and many other EMS courses. The volunteers take pride in the ability to provide extensive life-saving services to the local community. For more information, to donate, or to volunteer with the Harrisonburg Rescue Squad, please visit http://www.rescue40.org.
Michael Roper, Harrisonburg Rescue Squad, http://www.rescue40.org, +1 (434) 953-6689, [email protected]
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