JOIN US

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the White Oak Volunteer Rescue Squad.

Below is some information that we believe may be of use to persons considering membership.

EMS IS NOT FOR EVERYONE, BUT VOLUNTEERING CAN BE.

There are plenty of opportunities to serve your community through the volunteer EMS service, and much of it has nothing to do with direct patient contact.

Emergency Medical Services is one of the most challenging professions today. It is this diversity that inspires most individuals to enter EMS. This business is not for everyone, however. You need more than just desire to help people. You need courage, dedication, assertiveness, and a willingness to learn new skills and face new challenges.

The personal rewards and satisfaction received from being a volunteer are often beyond description. There is a sense of accomplishment after helping a member of our community, joy, and elation when a child is born, or a life is saved and compassion for the ill and injured.

If you are looking for a change of pace or excitement in your life, the world of  EMS could be for you. If this action-filled lifestyle does not appeal to you, have no fear, there is plenty more that can be done in the business of EMS that does not include patient care.

We have various committees within the Squad, all of which you will be welcomed to join. Running and maintaining a Squad of our size is time consuming and at times, costly, so the volunteering of your time is something we value. Members assist with building and gounds maintenance, attend to regular vehicle and equipment maintenance, participate in community events, participate in on-going training, responding to 9-1-1 calls, and many other activities.

WANT TO HELP?

GET INVOLVED!

The White Oak Rescue needs Drivers, EMT's, and Administrative personnel!

To be an Operational member of the White Oak Volunteer Rescue Squad you must be certified in CPR and in Virginia as either:

• Emergency Vehicle Operator
• Emergency Medical Technician or higher.

Classes are provided free of charge to those joining the Squad and agreeing to provide service.

DRIVERS NEEDED!

Ambulances are much more than large vehicles. They are emergency vehicles that carry personnel and equipment to the scene of an emergency and then transport the patient(s) to the hospital. To become certified to drive an ambulance, you need to take the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Emergency Vehicle Operator Class (EVOC) and pass both a written and driving test for Class 1 and 2 emergency vehicles. EVOC is a 16 hour course consisting of both classroom and practical sessions. vehicle. Participants must pass a written and practical exam to be certified to drive an emergency vehicle. (By the way, passing EVOC can lower your “points” and your insurance premiums!)

BECOME AN EMT!

Learn how to save lives- become an EMT! The Commonwealth of Virginia currently recognizes several levels of training for Emergency Medical Technicians:

• EMT
• AEMT
• Paramedic

EMT is the entry level course that will get you started. Those certified as an EMT provide “basic life support.”

The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) class consists of approximately 170 hours in the classroom, plus clinical/field rotations. This course is designed to train individuals to serve as a vital link in the chain of the health care team. This includes all skills necessary to provide emergency medical care as an attendant-in-charge with a basic life support ambulance service or other specialized rescue services.  Upon successfully completion of the training program, the student will be take the National Registy of EMT's certification exam. Once certified, you are now trained to perform the following functions:

• Recognize the nature and seriousness of the patient’s condition or extent of injury to assess requirements for emergency care.
• Administer appropriate emergency care to stabilize the patient’s condition.
• Lift, move, position, and otherwise handle the patient in a way as to minimize discomfort and further injury.

Once you gain some experience and feel confident in your knowledge and skills, the next level is the advanced life support provider. There are two (2) courses available, Advanced EMT or Paramedic. These courses teach advanced levels of care which will enable the provider to administer serveral more emergency medications, perform invasive procedures such as IV therapy, IV medications, endotrachael intubation, and other advanced skills. The highest level of pre-hospital provider is the Paramedic.

To learn more about the different pre-hospital providers, please visit the Virgina Office of EMS website.

BECOME AND ADMINISTRATIVE MEMBER!

Administrative members serve the Squad in a variety of different ways. We will always have a need for members that have knowledge in bookkeeping, maintenance, social media, outreach, organization, and many others. We will also always have a need for members who are willing to learn and be part of a team.

BECOME A MEMBER

If you are interested in joining White Oak Volunteer Rescue Squad, please submit an application for membership at Stafford Fire & Rescue Department

1.  Have your fingerprints, background check, and photo ID cards, if over 18 years of age. Completed with County.
2.  Must be at least 16 years old to be a Junior member, then after turning 18 and out of high school you become an active member.
3.  Operational members are required to document 24 hours a month. 
4.  Members are to attend membership meetings first Tuesday of the month at 7 pm. Operational members are to attend monthly training sessions which   are normally held on the third Tuesday of the month beginning at 6 pm. 
5.  EMT students may run on the ambulance and practice their skills with AIC approval. 
6.  If you have no certification, but want to ride on the ambulance to see what we do, you may ride as an observer as long as you have CPR. You must fill   out the Stafford County Ride-Along application prior to riding. You can't have any patient contact, but it gives you an idea how things work.
7.  Certifications to have patient contact would be EMT, Advanced EMT, Intermediate, Paramedic.
8.  Drivers must be Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC) certified or state approved equivalent and Healthcare Provider CPR.
9.  The dress code would be the Squad's polo shirt, Squad Tee shirt or job shirt with dark blue or black pants and boots (steel -toed preferred).  

LEVELS OF MEMBERSHIP:

Junior Member - Junior members are young people between the ages of 16 and 18 who are CPR-certified. Junior members can enroll in the EMT course and become a Nationally Registered and Virginia-certified EMT. The only restrictions placed on our Junior Members is that they cannot be certified as “Attendant-in-Charge” until they reach their 18th birthday.

Administrative Member - Administrative Members are members who support our organization but do not commit themselves to the 24 hour requirements of Operational members. There is no requirement for Administrative members to be certified EMTs or drivers. Administrative members are required to be actively engaged in the Squad by participating on committees, helping with functions, and generally supporting the Squad.

Operational Member - Operational Members are members who are certified to drive the ambulances and/or provide patient care. Operational members are required to document a minimum of 24 hours of service each month. Operational members are required document their time in the County's Fire/Rescue scheduling program.

If you are not sure whether or not volunteering with the rescue squad is right for you, we can make arrangements for you to ride along as an observer. In order to ride along, you must be certified in CPR.

To get more information please contact us.