The Commonwealth of Virginia commended the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad Tuesday for its outstanding service to over 150,000 citizens.
"I think it is an important message to our volunteers who don't always receive the proper recognition for the hard work they are doing," Squad President David Starmer said. "They put in 12 hours a week for 52 weeks a year and it is nice to know that the community appreciates the work we do."
Starmer is a Commerce graduate student who has been involved with the squad for six years.
The squad also was recognized as the busiest all-volunteer rescue organization in the country in the October issue of "Firehouse Magazine."
"To be the busiest and still be so successful and be able to provide such quality care with state-of-the-art equipment and the very best training shows that we are at the pinnacle of what we do," Starmer said. "It is a testament that with almost 12,000 calls last year, our volunteers are able to provide the level of service that they provide."
Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle, presented the commending resolution to squad member J.V. Nable, a fourth-year Engineering student.
"I have absolutely enjoyed my experience on the squad," said Nable, who spends 36 hours a week volunteering. "It is a great learning experience -- you really get to know yourself and the community at large."
Nable decided to join the squad while he was volunteering at Madison House.
"The volunteers have pretty limited patient contact," he said. "So I decided to volunteer after I saw one of my friends who was involved."
The squad has 175 volunteers, and all of the volunteers go through 120 hours of training before they go into the field.
Starmer said about 40 percent of the squad consists of University students and that the squad fielded 11,382 calls last year.
The squad, which has been in existence for 44 years, provides emergency and ambulance service to the University, City and a great majority of the County.
Nable said the squad also performs vehicle and building extractions as well as rope and trench rescues and rescues of people from confined spaces.
"This award is all about getting the volunteers the recognition they deserve and reminding the community about our volunteer professionals," Starmer said. "Our standards are among the highest and have been for 43 years."
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