FAQ

What area does Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad serve?

BVRS serves the Town of Blacksburg and the northern portion of Montgomery County. Our run area is approximately 130 square miles. We do not provide services to the campus of Virginia Tech.

Are any of the Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Members paid for their services?

No. We are very proud of our history of being staffed completely by volunteers. None of our members receive any sort of monetary compensation for the time that they give to BVRS.

Besides Blacksburg Rescue, are there any other services that respond to medical emergencies in Blacksburg?

No. Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad is the sole provider of Emergency Medical Services in the Town of Blacksburg and the surrounding portion of Montgomery County.

What if all of the ambulances or providers of BVRS are busy? Who will respond to my emergency?

BVRS has mutual aid agreements with several adjoining rescue agencies. If our resources are overwhelmed we will turn your call over to them.

Are the members of Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad firefighters?

The fire department and the rescue squad are two different entities in the Town of Blacksburg. While we do have members who participate in both organizations, we do not require our members to be firefighters.

If I call 911 for an ambulance, how much will I be billed?

The services of Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad are completely free. You will not receive a bill from us.

If I call 911, will you take me to the hospital of my choice?

BVRS transports almost exclusively to Lewis Gale Montgomery. This is because they are the closest hospital to the people that we serve. We are not allowed to pass one hospital to take patients to another. The use of the 911 system implies that the caller is experiencing an emergency. It is therefore inappropriate for us to transport to a hospital that is farther away when there is one within our run area. Also, since we are a volunteer organization, we need to remain as close as possible to those we serve.

Since BVRS is staffed by volunteers does this mean there is no one in the station?

No. We have members on duty at the station 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Our goal is to have enough members to staff one ambulance but we often have enough to staff two. Should the “Duty Group” be on a call and a second call drop, each of our members carry a pager that will alert them of the need to respond to the station to handle that emergency.

Since you don’t bill, how are you funded?

Blacksburg Rescue receives funding from the Town of Blacksburg and Montgomery County. We are also a part of the annual United Way fund drive. Once a year we send a letter to the citizens that we serve requesting funding. We are very grateful for the support that we receive from those we serve. With those funds we have become a well trained and supplied crew.

What role did the members of BVRS play in the events on Virginia Tech’s campus on 4-16-2007?

On April 16, 2007, many of our members left their “real jobs” to support the rescue effort on the campus of Virginia Tech. We provided a crew to support Tech Rescue during the first call at West AJ. We also delivered one of the Tactical Medics to the scene before the shooting had stopped. As an agency we provided the most EMS providers and equipment throughout the rescue operations.

What is a DNR? How do I get one and do you honor them?

A DNR is a “Do Not Resuscitate” document that is signed by both the patient (or their power of attorney) and the patient’s doctor. A DNR is a legal document that tells EMS responders not to perform CPR or any other advanced procedure if a person has stopped breathing or their heart has stopped beating. A DNR is obtained by speaking with your private physician. BVRS does honor DNR orders. However, we have to see the DNR in order for it to be honored. If you have a DNR it is wise to put it in an obvious place such as above your bed or on the refrigerator. You may also want to make several copies of the DNR and keep them in your wallet or purse.