CAVE SPRING RESCUE SQUAD
Professionally Trained Volunteer Agency Since 1958
VOLUNTEER
For more then 58 years, the citizens of Cave Spring and surrounding areas of Roanoke County have stepped forward to volunteer their time to server their fellow neighbors.
With over 1,400 calls for EMS service a year, we are one of the busiest stations in the Roanoke Valley
and our call volume continues to increase year after year.
We continue to be dependent on people like you.
YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS YOU
Do you feel like you could make a difference?
Do you want to know what to do in an emergency?
You don't have to be a hero, you just have to show up.
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
SERVICE
You'll respond to your friends and neighbors. You'll interact with some people who will be at the lowest moment of their life. You'll be the only thing standing between someone and death. And you'll love the feeling of giving back to your community and helping others in need.
FAMILY
You'll gain a second family the moment you walk into the station. You'll make life long friendships and be able to share memories that few people will be able to relate to.
TRAINING
You'll receive free training that will meet or exceed professional standards and are on the cutting edge of EMS medical science and protocols. You'll be equipped to respond to and handle almost any emergency both on duty or in your free time out in the community.
EXPERIENCE
You'll gain invaluable experience and skills that you'll be able to take back with you to your career or prepare you for pursuit of a career in EMS or medicine.
You'll be ready to help in emergencies at home or in your workplace. You'll mature and be forever changed.
MEDIC INCENTIVE PROGRAM
As an ALS provider, you'll be eligible to receive a take home response vehicle allowing you to sleep and respond from home during your duty shifts.
Application Process
NEED TO KNOW FOR MEMBERSHIP
Minimum Requirements
Hours of Operation
Friday Shifts
6:00 PM - 12:00 PM (Saturday)
Monday - Thursday Shifts
6:00 PM - 6:00 AM
Saturday Shifts
12:00 PM - 12:00 PM (Sunday)
Sunday Shifts
12:00 PM - 6:00 AM (Monday)
During inclement weather or situational emergencies,
personnel can be called up to provide staffing outside normal operating hours.
Requests can also be sent to the crew to staff trucks for sporting, concert, and community events that may be outside normal operating hours.
An individuals participation in these types of requests
is based on their availability.
Duty Crews & Schedule
Shifts are covered by 6 duty teams that operate on a six-week rotation that includes a 10-day break before repeating the cycle again. For example:
Week 1: Saturday shift
Week 2: Friday shift
Week 3: Thursday shift
Week 4: Tuesday shift
Week 5: Monday shift
Week 6: Sunday & Wednesday shifts
10-day break before repeating cycle
Our members enjoy the consistency of a regular schedule rather then a schedule that constantly changes. Our members can know when they will be on duty many months ahead of time and can plan accordingly. Unlike some agencies who struggle to meet minimum staffing levels due to ever decreasing and complex availability of their members, we find the duty team model insures adequate staffing every single night which in turn insures our community we will always be there when needed.
Membership Categories
Junior - Our Junior Membership is for our volunteers under the age of 18. Junior members are assigned to a standard duty team and expected to run according to their scheduled shifts as well as attend all required business and training meetings. During the school year, Junior members are sent home from their duty shifts at 11:00 PM on school nights. However, they are expected to stay for their entire shift at the station on weekends and when school is not in session.
Eligibility:
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Be at least 16 years old
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Able to meet the expected job requirements as listed above
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Displays exceptional maturity and character
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Submits an end of the semester copy of report card reflecting a minimum 2.0 GPA in school
Senior - Senior Membership is the standard membership category. Senior members are assigned to a standard duty team and expected to run according to their scheduled shifts as well as attend all required business and training meetings. Senior members also sign-up to staff trucks for special events and standbys based on their availability.
Eligibility:
-
Be at least 18 years old
-
Future or currently certified state or nationally registered EMT or higher
-
Able to meet the time requirement
Associate - Associate members are required to run 24 hours a month of on-duty and/or other approved service. Associates make their own schedules based on the needs of the agency and the individuals availability.
Eligibility:
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Be at least 18 years old
-
Certified state or nationally registered EMT or higher
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Served at least 2 years with an emergency medical services agency
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Able to commit to the time requirement
Academic - Academic members are assigned to a standard duty team and expected to run their scheduled shifts as well as attend all required business and training meetings. However, they are excused from these requirements during the regularly scheduled school year.
Eligibility:
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Certified stated or nationally registered EMT or higher
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Enrolled as a full-time student in a college outside the Roanoke Valley
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Be at least 16 years old
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Submit to and pass a preliminary Virginia State Police background check
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Submit to and pass a FBI National background check
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Be of good moral character
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Possess a Authorization to test letter from NREMT
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Hold a Virginia EMT, AEMT, Intermediate, or Paramedic certification
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Able to meet the time commitment
Apply for Membership
Pass Initial Background Check
1st Reading of your Application at our monthly Business Meeting
Complete 6 observation shifts
Pass FBI National Background Check
Interview with the Membership Committee
Attend 2nd Reading - Application is voted on
Begin 6-month Probationary Membership
Depending on the individual, the application process can take 1 to 2 months to complete.
TESTIMONIALS
"I NEVER EXPECTED IT TO BE LIKE THIS. I JOINED FOR THE ADRENALINE RUSH.
BUT WHAT I GOT FAR SURPASSED MY EXPECTATIONS.
I WAS SEEING PEOPLE AT THEIR WORST
AND I HAD THE ABILITY TO CHANGE THAT FOR THEM.
JOEL HAYWOOD / DEPUTY CHIEF / CHURCH MUSICIAN / ORDINARY CITIZEN
"VOLUNTEERING HAS NOT ONLY GIVEN ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY I'VE GROWN UP IN, IT HAS ALSO PROVIDED ME A TON OF EXPERIENCE BEFORE MEDICAL SCHOOL."
SARAH COHEN / EMT / PRE-MED STUDENT / ORDINARY CITIZEN
JOSH ROBINSON / MEDIC / SALESMEN / ORDINARY CITIZEN
"I'M JUST AN ORDINARY CITIZEN DOING UNORDINARY THINGS."
