Charlottesville Albemarle Rescue Squad

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The Charlottesville Albemarle Rescue Squad (CARS) provides emergency medical (ALS/BLS) transport and rescue service to residents of Charlottesville, Albemarle County and the University of Virginia.

The volunteer agency used to runs approximately 12,000 calls per year, making it one of the busiest volunteer-run EMS agencies in the nation. In 2019, that number was down to less than 7,000. [1]

Until recently, CARS did not charge for ambulance service, rather relying on private donations for funding, going so far as to opt out of the county's plan to assess such charges. [2][dead link]. However the agency eventually relented and did begin to charge for ambulance services. CARS charged $1.1 million in FY2019 and received $441,000 from that amount. The rest went to Charlottesville's general fund. [1]

The number of volunteers is down due in part to changes in certifications and qualifications required. [1]

Funding dispute

At the City Council meeting on March 15, 2021, Chief Virginia Leavell and president John Howard claimed the city of Charlottesville has not lived up to the terms of an agreement signed in 2017 to fund CARS' operations. [3]

History

CARS was founded in 1960 and was originally named the Albemarle Rescue Squad before adding Charlottesville to the name[4][dead link]. CARS took its first call on November 17, 1960.

For decades, CARS has received national recognition for its services. Their volunteer service is on par with paid, large municipal services around the nation. In 1973, CARS started "stand alone" ALS coverage by utilizing a telemetry radio to call the UVA Coronary Care Unit for advanced life support orders and physician advise. In 1977, Newsweek Magazine named CARS one of the top 4 rescue squads in the country. (The other 3 were Seattle Fire Dept., the Chicago Fire Dept., and the Los Angeles County Fire Dept. where the then popular TV show "Emergency" was filmed). In 1989, CARS was named the busiest All Volunteer Rescue Squad in the country by Firehouse Magazine & they also were awaarded the Virginia Governor's EMS Award for the Outstanding EMS Agency. In 2003, CARS was named EMS Agency of the Year by the National Association of EMS Physicians.

The squad's first building was constructed on McIntire Road in 1965. [4][dead link]

Past Chiefs[5]

  • Noah Hillstrom, current
  • Dayton Haugh, 1994 - ?
  • Blee Moffett, 1993 - 1994
  • Tommy Dudley, 1990 - 1992
  • Darlene Rea, 1989 - 1990
  • Robert Jaskiewicz, 1987 - 1989
  • Marc Winstead, 1986 - 1987
  • Josh Pritchett, 1985 - 1986
  • Robert Jaskiewicz, 1980 - 1985
  • Josh Pritchett, 1978 - 1980
  • Ray Wyland, 1977 - 1978
  • Josh Pritchett, 1975 - 1977
  • Luther Higginbotham, 1974 - 1975
  • Ray Wyland, 1972 - 1974
  • Luther Higginbotham, 1971 - 1972
  • James Harlow, 1971
  • Alvin Morris, 1969 - 1971
  • Charles Rausch, 1968 - 1969
  • Dennis White, 1967 - 1968
  • Ted Patterson, 1965 - 1967
  • Miles Harlow, 1964 - 1965
  • Charles Rausch, 1963 - 1964
  • Ted Patterson, 1960 - 1963

External Links

CARS Website

Referencess

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Web. Despite challenges, CARS' volunteer-staffed ambulances still come when called, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, March 1, 2020, retrieved March 7, 2020.
  2. Web. CARS opts out of charging for transport, Staff report, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, January 11, 2010, retrieved 16 Jan 2010.
  3. Web. Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad raises concerns over city funding issues, Riley Wyant, News Article, WVIR NBC29, Charlottesville, VA, March 17, 2021, retrieved March 18, 2021.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Web. Rescue squad marks half-century of service, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, November 6, 2010, retrieved November 8, 2010.
  5. "CARS : Past Chiefs." Charlottesville Albemarle Rescue Squad. 27 May 2009 <http://www.rescue1.org/>