Staunton-Augusta Rescue Squad

The Staunton-Augusta Rescue Squad (SARS) is a volunteer agency that provides outstanding professionalism and quality of service through innovative training, community awareness, preventative health programs, public relations and active participation in the EMS system. SARS stresses the importance of education by regularly hosting training sessions and by having eight EMT-Basic instructors teach classes regionally. SARS also instated a quality assurance committee that actively reviews EMS calls to make sure that proper patient care and protocol procedures were followed. SARS actively participates in the community by attending local events and sponsoring organizations like the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and Boy Scout venture club. They visit local daycares, elementary schools, adolescent behavioral health facilities and other community groups to provide information about health and safety. Twice a year they offer CPR classes to the public and remain a resource for patrons that have medical questions or need their blood pressure or blood glucose checked. Additionally, The City of Staunton designated the SARS building as an emergency operations center in case of a local or regional disaster. The Staunton-Augusta Rescue Squad’s significant contributions to Virginia’s local, regional and state EMS system are exceptional and greatly valued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Safe Kids Central Shenandoah Valley Coalition
2009 Governor’s Emergency Medical Services Award for Outstanding Contribution to EMS for Children

Safe Kids Central Shenandoah Valley Coalition helped to pass legislation (which went into effect July 1, 2009) prohibiting the sale of novelty lighters to juveniles under the age of 18.  Additionally, Safe Kids Central Shenandoah partnered with Harrisonburg Fire Department, WHSV-TV3 and Rockingham Memorial Hospital to form the Child Safety Alliance to help parents with child safety seat inspections. This program has been a huge success because they are able to have a full-time child safety seat technician on-duty Monday through Friday. They’ve also seen inspection rates sky rocket from 665 in 2006 to 1,436 in 2008. Safe Kids Central Shenandoah also received grant funding to conduct a study on distracted drivers in school zones, to educate children on the dangers of playing around railroad tracks and to disseminate more than 4,000 bike helmets to Harrisonburg students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Safe Kids Central Shenandoah Valley Coalition’s significant contributions to Virginia’s local, regional and state EMS system are exceptional and greatly appreciated by the Commonwealth of Virginia.