Virginia Tech Rescue Squad wins collegiate Advanced Life Support Skills competition

Members of the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad who won the Advanced Life Support Skills competition at the National Collegiate Emergency Medical Services Foundation Conference on Feb. 25-26. From left, Lee Hastings, Patrick McGuire, Ryan Steves, Robert Stephens, Jeff Jones, and Annie Vance. Photo courtesy of Virginia Tech

BLACKSBURG  – Members of the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad placed first in the Advanced Life Support Skills competition at the National Collegiate Emergency Medical Services Foundation Conference in Baltimore on Feb 25-26.

Members of the winning team include:

* Jeff Jones of Chesapeake, Va., a junior majoring in construction engineering and management in the College of Engineering;

* Patrick McGuire of Hebron, Conn., a senior majoring in sociology in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences;

* Robert Stephens of Fairfax Station, Va., a senior majoring in crop and soil environmental sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and biology in the College of Science; and

* Ryan Steves of Warrenton, Va., a junior majoring in biochemistry in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Stephens, an emergency medical technician (EMT) – intermediate, led EMT-basics Jones, McGuire, and Steves through three scenarios intended to challenge the team’s assessment skills, medical knowledge, and teamwork.

By winning the event, the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad qualified to compete in the Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS) Games held in Baltimore on Feb. 29. There, the Virginia Tech team placed eighth out of 14 teams in that competition, which featured teams from major metropolitan areas, including New York City.

“These achievements showcase the high level of training and skill that members of the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad pride themselves on,” said rescue squad Capt. Bob Almon. “The squad is extremely proud to represent Virginia Tech and collegiate emergency medical services in the JEMS games”

“The JEMS competition was a great opportunity for us to showcase the high level of care we provide,” added Stephens, “as well as a great occasion to meet and work with EMS providers from across the country.”

With 43 years of service to the university community, the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad is a nationally recognized award-winning volunteer student-run organization committed to providing exceptional emergency medical services to the university community. Virginia Tech Rescue Squad maintains four advanced life support ambulances, three specialized first response vehicles, and a variety of support equipment offering the highest level of patient care available in the Commonwealth with in-station crews ready for service 24 hours a day 7 days a week. All members of the squad receive Virginia State Emergency Medical Technician certification. The Virginia Tech Rescue Squad averages 1,200 emergency calls annually.