FOUR OFFICERS ARE CITED BY COVINGTON RESCUE SQUAD

Four area law enforcement officers were honored by the Covington Rescue Squad Saturday, June 6th for trying to save the life of an Alleghany County resident earlier this year.

The four were honored during the squad’s 76^th annual banquet, held in Wolfe Hall at Station 1 on Hawthorne Street.

In awarding plaques to the officers, squad President Roy Markham recounted the events that led to the quartet’s recognition.

Early on the morning of April 20, the Covington Emergency Dispatch Center received a call from county resident Meg Jackson who was driving her husband, Tom, who was having a heart attack, toward Covington from Route 18 and wanted the rescue squad to meet her at Whitey’s on Carpenter Drive.

By the time Meg reached Whitey’s, Tom was in full cardiac arrest.

Four law enforcement officers – Alan Mann of the Virginia State Police and Darrell Hicks, David Williams and Heather Lane of the Covington Police Department – responded immediately to the scene, recognized the severity of the issue, pulled Tom from the vehicle and began administering CPR prior to the squad’s arrival on the scene.

According to Markham, although Tom later died at Alleghany Regional Hospital, without the efforts of the four officers, his chances of survival would have been decreased even more.

Later that morning, while the family was gathered at ARH, Officer Lane, after finishing her shift for the Covington Police Department, stopped by the hospital to check on the Jackson family and, later, she visited with the family during the visitation period at Loving Funeral Home.

“These four individuals most definitely went above and beyond the call of duty that morning,” Markham said. “They began treatment for Mr. Jackson while we were en route to the scene and, without their efforts, he would not have had the chance of survival that he did. They are definitely heroes to us in the Covington Rescue Squad, they are heroes to the Jackson family and they should be considered heroes to our entire community.”

President’s Award

Also during Saturday’s banquet, Second Lieutenant Neil Horn was presented the President’s Award by President Markham for his years of dedicated service to the squad.

Neil joined the squad as one of the first junior members in March 2001.

Since that time, he has responded to over 4,000 calls for service as a squad member.

He is a certified Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B) and is currently a student in the EMT-Enhanced class at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College. The class is being funded by The Alleghany Foundation.

Neil is also certified in vehicle extrication, emergency vehicle operation’s and recently underwent certification training to begin teaching other emergency responders how to use a new airway management tool, the King Airway.

He is the squad’s second lieutenant in charge of vehicle maintenance.

“We’ve butted heads many times in the past, but Neil is just like a son to me,” Markham said. “Even before he got in the squad, we predicted he would be the future of the Covington Rescue Squad and he has proven us right. He has consistently proven himself as a dedicated squad member and I am so proud to be able to present him this award tonight.”

Service Awards

Captain Timothy Dick presented several service pins to members who have reached tenure milestones.

Angela Dressler was presented a one-year pin, while Corey Bowles was presented a pin for five years of service.

Jake Hinkle was honored for 10 years of service to the squad and Brenda Wilcher was given a pin for 15 years of service.

Brenda was honored earlier this year by the Boiling Springs Fire Department for having served over 25 years as a volunteer firefighter in that organization. All toll, Brenda has given over 26 years of her life to helping others as part of the Boiling Springs Fire Department and the Covington Rescue Squad.

2008 Report

Later in the banquet, Captain Dick gave a report on the squad’s activities during 2008.

For the year, the squad responded to 945 calls within the city limits.

Squad members expended a total of 4,361 hours responding to city alarms and traveled the city a total of 12,746 miles.

There were 447 calls for service in Alleghany County, with squad members totaling 1,713 personnel hours and traveling 6,367 miles.

The Covington Rescue Squad requested for assistance 115 during 2008 and called for mutual aid only 50 times, out of the 1,392 total calls received during the year.

Four new members joined the squad during the year – Mike Fisher, Jen Mann, Lisa Harmon and Travis Braxton. Currently, the squad has a force of 31 volunteers.

Ten squad members were honored for answering the most calls during 2008.

Don Heironimus responded to 498 calls, while Neil Horn responded to 495.

Other top call responders were Tim Byer, 415 calls; Ryan Nicely, 397; Greg Burton, 378; Teresa Markham, 352; Patrick Scruggs, 347; Tim Dick, 309; Diana Patterson, 304, and Kim Vass, 271.

There are six squad members that are taking the EMT-Enhanced class at DSLCC and will take their final test June 24 in Christiansburg. Those members are Neil Horn, Diana Patterson, David Crosier, Drema Crosier, Patrick Scruggs and Troy Gillespie.

In 2008, two members took classes at the annual Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squad’s (VAVRS) Rescue College at Virginia Tech. Tripp Hammond took a swift-water rescue class, while Tim Byer took an emergency vehicle operator course (EVOC) instructor course.

Also in 2008, one member attended EMS Symposium in Norfolk, four members attended the Star Points Symposium at Virginia Tech, 17 active members attended the annual VAVRS convention in Virginia Beach.

While at the VAVRS convention, the squad’s EMT team placed 13^th in the state, the vehicle extrication team placed fourth and the EVOC team placed 10^th.

The squad also hosted the January quarterly VAVRS District 1 meeting.

During the year, the squad finalized several grants from the Virginia Rescue Squad Assistance Fund, including a 50/50 match for new pagers, a 50/50 matching grant for an automated external defibrillator (AED) machine for Covington City Hall, a $15,000 grant for extrication suits, helmets, boots and rescue jacks, and a 50/50 matching grant for a new ambulance.

In total, the squad received approximately $85,000 in grant funds and is currently awaiting word on a 50/50 matching grant for an automatic cardiac support pump, which will help with CPR compressions in the event of a cardiac arrest incident.

Several squad members helped create the SWAT medic team along with the Covington Police Department.

Lt. Alan Ferris awarded certificates of appreciation to three squad members who have been instrumental in helping get the SWAT medic team established – Diana Patterson, Kim Vass and Paula Burton.

The squad stood by for various community events in 2008 – the Alleghany Highlands Bike Rodeo, EMS Day at Wal-Mart, all Covington High School varsity football games, the Charlie Daniels concert, assisted with The Salvation Army bell ringing campaign and attended all area parades, both Labor Day and Christmas.

As of Saturday’s banquet, the squad has responded to approximately 600 calls.

Officers and Members

The officers and members of the squad are Timothy Dick, captain; Kim Vass, first lieutenant, Roy Markham, president and second lieutenant-radio; Brenda Wilcher, vice-president and second lieutenant-training; Don Heironimus, second lieutenant-rescue; Neil Horn, second lieutenant-maintenance; Teresa Markham, recording secretary and contest sergeant; Chris Selman, quartermaster sergeant, Drema Crosier, corresponding secretary; Jake Hinkle, treasurer; Gary Fisher, chaplain; Mike Collins, legal advisor and Dr. John Lewis, medical advisor.

Also, Greg Burton, Lorri Wolfe, Jared Campbell, Candace Markham, Troy Gillespie, David Crosier, Ryan Nicely, Diana Patterson, Corey Bowles, Paula Burton, Patrick, Scruggs, Tim Byer, Tripp Hammond, Angela Dressler, Mike Fisher, Jen Mann, Lisa Harmon, Chuckie Simmons, Travis Braxton, Kayla Pauley and Shane Markham.

Retired members are Bob McCallister, Jerry Burks, Paul Burns, John Hudson, Gary Fisher, Nita Downer, Teresa Wilhelm, Harrison Scott and Frances Hinkle.

Life members are James Downer, Donald Scott, Richard Crowder, Mac Burkholder and Tim Yancey.