Colchestervt.us

About Colchester Rescue Squad

The Colchester Rescue Squad (CRS) is a Municipal, primarily volunteer, ambulance service licensed
by the Vermont State Department of Health, to provide emergency care and transportation of the sick
and injured. CRS operates two fully-equipped ambulances and covers the Town of Colchester, except
the Route 15 corridor, which is covered by Saint Michael's Rescue.
What is the Process to Become a Volunteer Member?
The first step in the process is to fill out an application for membership. You will need to include three
letters of recommendation / references, and copies of your current certification cards.
Upon receiving your completed application you will receive a phone call to set up an interview. The
interview will usually last about 30 minutes. Along with your interview you will also do two observation
shifts, one will be with the crew you will potentially be joining. The purpose is for the members of
Rescue to have a chance to interact with you.
After the above has been completed the decision will be made whether or not to accept you into
membership. After six months as a probationary member, and completing the EMT-B class you will
be presented to the Crew Captains to conclude your probationary period, and become a Full Member.

How Much Time Will I Have to Give?
While we are sensitive to the needs of rescue personnel with regards to their families, and try not to
take people away from other responsibilities unnecessarily, membership on Rescue requires a fair
amount of time. This time commitment is divided into duty shifts, training, and meetings. Even though
Rescue duty is a volunteer commitment it is just that, a commitment, and all members are expected to
be present for scheduled shifts and trainings.
Most members of the squad are assigned to a set crew, (either an evening crew 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., or a
day crew 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) and will run one shift per week. Each crew is comprised of 3-5
people, and is supervised by a Crew Captain. Weekends shifts are usually comprised of members
from different crews. Thie gives people a chance to run with people outside of their regular crew.
Most training occurs on the crew level during regularly assigned crew shifts. However, CRS holds
squad training / business meeting on the fourth Wednesday of every month beginning at 7 p.m.
What Facilities are Available at the Rescue Station?
When on duty, members are required to stay at the Rescue station. The crew will remain together
throughout their shift, whether it’s hanging out at the station, going out to dinner, or running calls.
The station has the many comforts of home, such as…
A living room (with sofas, cable TV, DVD / VCR), dining area (with table and chairs), a fully functional
kitchen, bathroom (with a shower), two bunkrooms (with three beds in each), and an office with two
computers. A training room is attached to the living quarters which is used for squad meetings and
training classes
What Constitutes A CRS Emergency Crew, and How Will I Fit In?
An emergency crew on the ambulance comprises 3-4 people. One person on each call is designated
the Crew Chief, and is responsible for the smooth management of the call, communication with the
hospital, and direction of patient care. Before acting as a crew chief, individuals are trained in this
function, have call experience, and have a demonstrated ability to perform under pressure.
How Do I Know If I Can "Take It?"
You don't! No one knows how they will react to the various medical emergencies and pressure
situations that one will encounter on Rescue. However, experience has shown that as people become
trained to handle medical emergencies, the natural fear of being confronted with a potentially horrible
situation recedes. The feeling that results from being responsible for saving a life is one that you will
carry forever - and far outweighs the negative aspects of the job. Colchester is a small town and it is
likely that you will eventually have an acquaintance as a patient!
All new CRS members go through a six-month probationary period during which time you are
assigned to a crew with an experienced Crew Captain. This period of time provides the new member
with an opportunity to slowly build a relationship with the squad and determine if the member likes this
type of service. If you find out that you are not cut out for this type of service, there are, of course, no
strings to your staying with the squad.

How do I Get Trained? Can I Become an EMT?
Colchester Rescue puts a lot of effort into training its members. Once you are accepted as a
Probationary Member you will be given a checklist to learn where items are, and how to use them on
the ambulance. You will also be required to attend an Orientation Session where you will begin your
first step of training on important items like the use of the stretcher, Exposure Control, HIPPA, and the
policies & procedures of Colchester Rescue.
To become an EMT-Basic you need to be affiliated with a licensed first response or ambulance
agency. The class is run primarily two semesters Fall/Spring. Two days a week and occasional labs
on weekends the total hours of class time is 110, with addition hours spent observing in the
Emergency Department. You are responsible for the payment of the class upfront, however upon
successful completion of your six month probationary period, and certification of your EMT-B you will
be reimbursed the amount paid for the class.
The EMT-I course (an additional 60 hours) is also taught twice a year, and topics include use of
epinephrine, Nitro, Aspirin, Albuterol, Glucagon, as well as IV fluids. EMT-I training will be paid for by
the squad, for active members in good standing, with the approval of their Crew Captain, and the
Rescue Chief.

Source: http://www.colchestervt.us/Rescue/volunteer.pdf