Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad Members Honored in Graduation Ceremonies

As friends and family members looked on, members of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad were honored in graduation ceremonies at the Montgomery County (Md.) Fire and Rescue Training Academy on August 26. Nine Rescue Squad volunteers were recognized for completing training programs to become Emergency Medical Technicians and Firefighters.

Rescue Squad volunteers Brigh Cassidy, Nathaniel De Jonge, Ellen Gray, Charlotte Masters, Nathaniel Rowthorn-Apel, Brennan Spellmeyer, and Adam Tommer 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 165 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.

Rescue Squad volunteers Haley Goodfellow and Mehdi Jamal completed Montgomery County’s rigorous Firefighter I and II classes. The classes, totaling 168 hours, consist 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 emergencies involving hazardous materials, electrical equipment, fire alarm and sprinkler systems, and many others.

For many, the ceremony was bittersweet, as it marked the last chapter for Montgomery County’s Public Safety Training Academy in Rockville, where, for 43 years, Rescue Squad members honed their Firefighter and Emergency Medical Services skills in the classrooms, in the burn building, and on the driver training “skid pan.” This fall, the County will open a state-of-the-art training academy in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

All Rescue Squad volunteers and staff receive professional training and exceed state standards, in addition to completing our rigorous in-house training programs.

The Rescue Squad welcomes new members year-round. No experience is necessary, and volunteers receive free professional training, annual physicals, and other benefits. For information on volunteering with the B-CC Rescue Squad, call the membership hotline at 301-657-5557, email us at membership@bccrs.org , or visit www.bccrs.org.

About the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad
Now in its 76th year, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad is a community-supported organization that provides professional fire, rescue, and emergency medical services to the Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Maryland area, as well as Upper Northwest Washington, D.C. The Squad responds to all types of emergency incidents, including injuries, illnesses, heart attacks, vehicle collisions, house fires, and many others. Its fleet includes 7 ambulance/medic units, 1 paramedic “chase” car, 2 heavy rescue squads, and various command and utility vehicles.

The spirit, commitment, dedication, and operational skills of its members are the defining characteristics of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad. The Squad provides the community with the security and peace of mind that comes with emergency services that are among the best in the United States.

The B-CC Rescue Squad is registered under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and contributions to the Squad are tax-deductible.

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