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On October 22, 1952, a meeting was held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8163. The purpose of this meeting was to organize a local life saving and rescue squad for Mecklenburg County to serve from a Clarksville headquarters. The Board of Supervisors appropriated money for the use of a life saving and rescue aquad to be formed in Clarksville under the sponsorship of the V.F.W. Post 8163. A decision was made to organize this unit under the name of Mecklenburg County Life Saving and Rescue Squad. The V.F.W. would sponsor the squad until it could function as an organization on its own. |
About Our Squad |
In January 1953, squad members began with their first training classes. These classes consisited of standard and advanced first aid. Some members also received training in water safety. We also purchased our first boat. It was a Viking #19 manufactured by the Century Corporation. It cost an estimated $2000.00. During the first year, we also purchased other equipment including: 18 blankets, 6 stretchers, 6 splints, and one large first aid kit. |
On April 30, 1960, the Mecklenburg County Life Saving and Rescue Squad joined the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads. During the early years, squad meetings were held at the V.F.W. Property was obtained and the squad members proceeded to construct a new building. Finally, on October 22, 1963 the construction was complete. The Squad went on to order its first ambulance in February of 1964 with a cost of $2930.71. It was a Ford Stationwagon with an automatic transmission. On January 1, 1969, our Squad began transporting patients to local hospitals. Until this time, this service was provided by local funeral homes. In 1992, our Squad pursued purchasing an existing building and modifying it to fit our needs. We purchased some land with future plans to build a new facility. These plans had an estimated cost in excess of $300,000.00. We decided to purchase an existing building that was once utilized as a construction company. We purchased the former Talbott Marks building on Burlington Drive on August 19, 1992. The purchase included 3.6 acres of land at a cost of $125,000.00. Some renovations were made at a cost of $30,000.00. Our first full day of operations at our new facility came on March 16, 1993. A tremendous amount has changed since our fist day of operations and since the founding of our organization. An ambulance that cost under $3000.00 now exceeds $75,000.00. In 1953, the highest level of medical training was standard first aid. Today a member may progress to an Emergency Medical Technician at the Paramedic level. The list of supplies equipped in our ambulances no longer includes a large first aid kit but now includes endotracheal tubes, defibrillators, and drug boxes to only mention a few. The Mecklenburg County Life Saving and Rescue Squad is a non-profit and volunteer organization. We survive on donations from private citizens as well as from businesses of Mecklenburg County. Without their support, we could not survive as a volunteer organization. |
Officers |
History |
Current Active Members |
2003 Administrative President: Virginia Elliott Vice-President: Marvin Bryant Secretary: Angie Williamson Operations: Captain: Sheila Luffman Day Lieutenant: Kenneth Cope Night Lieutenant: E.C. Williamson |
Members: David Allen Cheri Blackwell Marvin Bryant Dawn Coalson Nick Coalson Kenneth Cope Richard Elliott Virginia Elliott Wanda Elliott Paul Fuller Alex Greene Mike Hite Pam Hite Amy Huff Sterlin Huff Arthur Hughes Sheila Luffman Jim McAlister Cindy Owen Roger Rice Johnny Shriver Bobby Toler Jeff Toler Amy Wilkerson Tony Wilkerson Angie Williamson E.C. Williamson Junior Members: Andy Elliott Kesha Petty Laura Tollerson Employees: Debbie Osborne Kirby Saunders Kaye Toler |