Virginia Tech Rescue Squad members continue to serve during university breaks

The busiest time of the year is upon us, but winter break is fast approaching.

Winter break doesn’t mean that the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad members will be "on break." The rescue squad operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. “People still come visit, travel through, and are working. The university doesn’t really shut down. It may slow down but it doesn’t truly shut down,” said Dan Barry, a life member for 50 years. 

The Virginia Tech Rescue Squad is a student-run, collegiate emergency medical services organization. This means all positions, including the chief, are staffed by students.

Life members and community members also make up a part of the squad. The agency provides the highest level of emergency medical services (EMS) services to students, faculty, staff, and visitors to the university. When requested, the rescue squad also provides support to other first response agencies in the county.

With the squad consisting of mostly students, the organization has a reduced crew during university breaks. Even though a large portion of the university population is gone, there is still a community that stays on the Blacksburg campus year-round.

“Not everyone [on the squad] has to stay, but roughly three members stay in town to guarantee that one ambulance remains in service. The reason for this is to let most of the students go home, refresh, and be with family especially after finals week,” said Kaid Fuhrman '24, now a life member.

Fuhrman has volunteered to work three out of the past four winter breaks, including Christmas Day, because he has been a member with the squad. He comes from a lineage of service and knows the dedication that is required for our first responders to be called upon even on holidays. “My dad worked for Roanoke Fire-EMS for 23 years, so I was used to him being away for the holidays.”

All rescue squad members uphold a dedication to training, education, and outreach.