Dante Rescue Squad began operation in February, 1968 to provide emergency care for Dante, Virginia and the surrounding areas. The organization was really needed due to a nearby squad disbanding and leaving the area without emergency service.
The squad began operation with twelve members and a 1951 Chevrolet station wagon ambulance which was donated to them. The ambulance was parked near a members house since there was no building for the squad to call home. A big tree was the ambulance's only protection.
The only training necessary to care for a patient was a Bureau of Mines First Aid course which took about 8 hours of class room time. To drive, the minimum age was 21 years with possession of a valid drivers license.
If someone needed the squad in the early years, a call had to be placed to one of the members homes. If that member was not home, other calls had to be made until a member was contacted. If whom ever was calling ran out of members they knew they had better hope their injury or illness was not serious because they were out of luck. Think about how many times that may have happened?
The first ambulance purchased by the squad was a Pontiac Hearse which had been used on an Air force base. Prior to squad members picking up the unit, it was broad sided by another vehicle and sustained heavy damage. The squad purchased it for $75.00 and paid almost $400.00 to have the damages repaired. None the less, the squad was very proud of this unit.
In 1970 the squad purchased its first new vehicle, a 1970 Ford van which crew members converted into an ambulance themselves. The cost of the vehicle was $1,600.00. Each member was to donate $10.00 per month to help make payments on the unit. After about a year of making payments, the Russell County Board of Supervisors made its first every allotment to the squad and the ambulance was paid for.
In 1973 Dan Glass Jr. became Dante Rescue's first Emergency Medical Technician. Also in 1973 Dan Glass Jr. and Adam Cooley became the first EMT-Instructors. Then in the late 1980's Dante Rescue Squad started offering Advanced Life Support. The first cardiac monitor was a heavy, MD Datascope monitor donated by the W. A. Davis Clinic (at the time it was known as Hanging Rock Clinic which Dr. Davis worked at).
In 1983, Dan Glass Jr. became the squads first Shock-Trauma Technician. The following year Paul Phillips became the agency's first Nationally Registered EMT-Basic, then in 1987 he became our first Cardiac Technician. To follow that up, in 1989 Paul became Dante's first Nationally Registered Paramedic.
Along with awards, Lori Phillips was the first Junior Member to receive Junior Squad Person of the Year honors all three consecutive years. Since then, two people have accomplished this feat Rodney Kennedy, and the most recent, Jarred Glass (1998, 1999, 2000). This task can never be accomplished again due to the fact that our junior department ran from the age of 15-18. Now with new state requirements a person cannot join till the age of 16.
Today Dante Rescue Squad Inc. has around 20 members on roll, a rolling stock of three well equipped, all four-wheel drive ambulances. All units are ALS equipped with 12 Lead Philips MRX Monitors. We operate a crash truck with extrication equipment and many other supplies. Also, we have a Jeep Cherokee that is utilized as a First Response Vehicle
We operate out of a 5,100 square foot main station located in Dante, Virginia. We also operate a second station on the edge of our service area outside of St. Paul, Virginia. That station is approximately 1,500 square feet.
Remember the first ambulance was donated to the squad and the second cost $75.00. Now the average ambulance can cost well over $100,000 dollars.
The required training to care for a patient is now at a minimum a 120 hour Emergency Medical Technicians course and all drivers must take an 18 hour Emergency Vehicle Operators Course.
Our squad is presently providing both basic and advanced life support with members trained as Emergency Medical Technicians, EMT-Enhanced, Intermediates and Paramedics.
