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Complete the form below and hit "Contact Us", our membership committee will be in touch!
The Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad (WVRS) was formed in 1955 and has served the community of Wheaton and surrounding areas of Montgomery County for over 45 years. We are a non-profit organization that is fully staffed by volunteers every evening, weekend, and holiday. We are in constant need of new members to become Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), paramedics, and firefighters. We are also in need of people who have expertise in bookkeeping, clerical, mechanical, and other related areas.
Membership is open to anyone over the age of 16. All equipment and training is provided by WVRS or Montgomery County. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad, please download an application or contact the Membership Committee.
Anyone over the age of 16 is eligible for membership at the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad. Minors between the ages of 16 and 17 will participate in our Cadet Program, where they will receive all of the necessary training to become an EMT, as well as assisting on ambulance calls, without having to spend school nights at the station.
A minimum commitment of approximately 60 hours per month is required. These hours consist of a weekly duty night, usually from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM and half of every third weekend. Applicants may choose any night from Sunday through Friday as their duty night, subject to the needs of the Rescue Squad.
Prospective members (for non-administrative positions) will be required to take a physical examination through Montgomery County Occupation Medical Services. The exam will be free of charge and consist of hearing, vision, lung capacity, stress, and various other tests to ensure proper health. Applicants must pass the physical to be eligible for active positions at WVRS, but those who do not qualify are still welcome to perform administrative duties.
As mentioned before, all training is provided free of charge. All new members will begin with a one day orientation session, where they will learn basic skills such as operating the ambulance cot and obtaining vital signs (pulse, blood pressure, and respirations). Members will begin regular duty following the orientation.
Level 1 consists of the basic skills that are necessary for riding the ambulance. During Level 1, members will demonstrate their ability to perform assigned duties around the station, including answering business and emergency phone calls, receiving dispatch information, and interacting with their crew. They will also be tested on their ability to obtain vital signs, operate the ambulance cot, and locate equipment on the ambulance. Members will attend one night classes on CPR, Cultural Diversity, EEO/AA and the Law, and Bloodborne/Airborne Pathogens. After demonstrating the necessary skills and passing a short written test, Level 1 will be completed, and the member will be allowed to serve as Co-Pilot on the ambulance. This may sound like a long process, but it usually only takes two or three weeks at the most.
All members must pass Level 2 to qualify for active membership. The first part of Level 2 is the Emergency Medical Technician course, which takes anywhere from 1 to 6 months and is provided at the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Training Academy. After passing EMT, members will demonstrate various skills and pass a written test. After passing Level 2, members will be voted in as active members and begin serving as Aide Person or Officer-in-Charge on the ambulance.
After passing Level 2, members have several options for future training. Members may begin driver training at the age of 20 and after six months as an Aide Person. They may begin training as a firefighter by attending the Essentials of Firefighting class at the training academy. Members may also continue medical training by completing the Paramedic course. There are many different options for training in the fire and rescue service, and we encourage all members to continue taking classes.
The Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad membership application is available for download in Adobe PDF format. To view the document, you must have Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. Acrobat Reader can be downloaded for free from Adobe's website using the link below. Simply complete the application and return it to WVRS in person or by mail, email, or fax.
When completing an application, please remember to attach copies of a resume, military discharge papers, and any pertinent certificates or articles. You will also be required to obtain letters of reference from three people outside your family, who can comment on your education, work experience, or community involvement. Those letters may be mailed or faxed directly to WVRS, or may be returned to you in a sealed and signed envelope and submitted with your application.
The application process usually takes at least four weeks, and sometimes up to three months from the time we receive your application, to the time you attend an orientation. Once we receive your completed application, you will be contacted for an interview. During your interview, we will ask some basic questions to get to know you better, provide more detailed information about WVRS, and answer any questions you may have. We will also provide the necessary paperwork for your physical and give you instructions for scheduling it. After we receive approval from Occupation Medical Services, you will be voted on by the Board of Directors, then contacted for an orientation.
To find out more about the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad, you may choose to attend a ride along. Ride alongs are available for any night of the week, but must be scheduled in advance. We recommend that you schedule a ride along for the duty night you think you will join. Upon arrival, you will be introduced to the crew for that night, given a tour of the station, and assigned to an ambulance. You will ride in the ambulance and observe the crew on all emergency and routine responses until 11:00 PM. It is a good idea to wear comfortable clothing and a good pair of shoes when you attend your ride along.
If you are interested in a ride-along, contact the Membership Committee by completing the "Contact Us" web form at the top of this webpage. Ride-alongs are availably only to persons 16 years of age or older. If you're under 18 the forms we'll send you must be notarized and signed by a parent or guardian.
Feel free to contact the Membership Committee anytime.
| Membership Chairman Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad 11435 Grandview Ave. Wheaton, MD 20902 |
Phone: (301) 962-0852 Fax: (301) 942-0740 Email: join@wvrs.org |
 |  WVRS_Membership_Application_and_Ref_Form_2-14-2008.pdf |