Chesterfield Rescue Squad
103 Cotton Street, Chesterfield South Carolina
Chesterfield County Rescue Squad Unit 2
Timeline Of Events
1958
Conception of the Rescue Squad There were 57 applications for membership, but by the time the first First Aid Class was over, there remained 12 charter members, nine from Cheraw and three from Chesterfield.
From Chesterfield were Frank White, Jack Hammond, and Evert Demby.
Cheraw’s nine charter members were Eddie Stubbs, R.D. Bulter, Billy Wicker, John L. Melton Jr., Eugene Brasington, Earle Cummings, L.C. Coates, Bob Frieler and Eugene Brown.
Colonel W F Millice taught the First Aid Course (I have been told he was tough).
1959
July 21 - A notice appeared in the newspaper that the Chesterfield County Rescue Squad was ready to receive calls.
1961
November 16 - Frank White (President), Jack Hammond, Evertt Demby (Vice President), Graydon Rivers (Adviser), and Charles Rivers Meet and started the Chesterfield Rescue Squad(Later Unit 2) within The Chesterfield County Rescue Squad.
The Civitian Club gave $300.00 to get the squad started
NOTE* When the Chesterfield County Rescue Squad was formed The Perry Clinic was the only Hospital in the county(Now Care South on Highway 9 Bypass, Chesterfield).
Frank White was first Captain and Charles Rivers was first Seceratary/ treasure
1965
Charles Rivers was Second Captain in 1965 and specifications were drawn up and a Panel Truck was ordered Cabnets were installed.
1966
Funeral Homes no longer transported patients due to the Federal Ambulance Regulations and cost.
1967
TEN-TEN radio receivers put into service. Low band solid tone Frequency 45.66Mhz County purchased a Superior Corset Ambulance and stationed it at Cheraw Hospital. When a patient was transported to Charlotte they would be loaded in the ambulance and the driver would head for Charlotte. He would pull over in Pageland and go open the back door and make sure the patient was alright and then be back on his way. County Squad association began.
1970
Assisted Patrick Rescue with training to get organized and started.
1971
"Jaws of Life" patented it was the first 32 inch hydraulic rescue tool.
1972
New law required at least a EMT-Basic on ambulance, Members started training.
1973
Purchased new Dodge Ambulance, First Vehicle built as an Ambulance Purchased "Jaws of Life".
1976
Purchased 2nd ambulance, Chevrolet Modular.
1978
Started the Charter for Unit #2
1981
Purchased portable scanners for all members. State added EMT-Intermediate level with training on intubation, AED, MAST. Squad certified 3 members.
1982
Purchased 3rd ambulance, Ford Van.
1985
Air Medical Services started in the South Carolina. Life Reach was the name of the helicopter service.
The first patient in the state to ever be transported by Life Reach was picked up in Dr. Jerry Perry’s pasture (just past Chesterfield High School on the left-hand side of the Highway 145 North)
1986
Purchased Dive Gear, Equipped 3rd ambulance.
1989
Replaced 1967 crash truck with a 1989 C30 Chevrolet that was built by members. The 1967 truck was raffled off.
1993
SCARS competition held in Cheraw. Non-SCARS Division State Champions; Douglass Curtis, Junior Kerns, Mark Stanley, Bobby Cassidy, Richard Carnes.
1994
Purchased New ambulance Ford Module, auctioned off 1973 Dodge Ambulance.
1996
Closed bay doors on bypass side. Insulated entire building.
EMT-Basic added intubation, AED, MAST skills.
1997
Installed new bay doors with remote control.
1998
Updated "Jaws of Life". Added AED. Frank White retired with 37 years of service.
June 26 - Gil Halma current member Line Of Duty Death working for Cheraw Police Department (Motor Vehicle accident off Highway 52 North near State Rd).
August 31 - John Crawley former member Line of Duty Death working for Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office (Gunfire on Henderson Rd in Pageland).
1999
Purchased New Ford Module Ambulance.(Current 1403) Sold 1976 ambulance.
Members testified in murder case.
All truck equipped with AED's.
July 1 - First Health of the Carolinas started county wide Advance Life Support.
2000
Purchased Hurst Air Bags.
Installed concrete lighted helicopter pad at Chesterfield Industrial Park.
2001
Sold 1982 Ford Van ambulance.
2003
November - Chesterfield County E911 Center takes first 911 call.
2004
Moved all radio traffic from low-band to high-band.
2005
Operations repeater went on-line to help with keeping unnecessary traffic off of the dispatch channel.
2006
Purchased Res-Q-Jacks to assist us with stabilization.
2007
Purchased Ford 4x4 Ambulance (current 1402) and equipped with Rescue Tec hydraulic tool.
Sold 1993 Ford Module Ambulance to Pageland Rescue Squad.
2010
Purchased 2 LifePac15 Cardiac Monitors.
2012
September 25 - Gale Rivers former member Line of Duty Death working for Sandhills Ambulance Service (Motor Vehicle Accident in front of CMC-Union).
Purchased E-Hydraulic rescue tools and rescue personal protective equipment.
2014
EMT-Intermediates transition to EMT-Advance Squad certifies 2 personnel.
2015
We upgraded our building with a new heating and cooling (climate control system).
Added ceiling mounted projector, wall mounted projector screen, DVD player and sound system to the building to be used for training.
2016
FirstHealth of the Carolinas decided to not renew their contract with Chesterfield County for County wide EMS(ALS) Service effective June 30, 2016.
July 1 - Medshore Ambulance out of Anderson as started providing EMS(ALS) service for Chesterfield County starting.
Received a donation of Shipping Pallets from a local manufacturing mill. Pallets were turned into cribbing, which is used to stabilization. Each truck has some cribbing, with the bulk being on 1401. A stash of extra cribbing was placed at the squad building for easy access if needed.
Upgraded our Crash Truck 1401 to a F550 (2008) with several updates retired old C30 (1989) Crash truck
Received the required Board of Pharmacy Permit to renew our DHEC License.
2017
February – National Registry increased NREMT Basic to 200 hours
April - “Ram 1” (All-terrain vehicle) is operational). It was donated to the rescue squad by Chesterfield PD who got it from salvage in 2015.
May – Started an ASHI Emergency Medical Responder Class at the rescue squad building (10 Students started the class)
June – Six (6) new Emergency Medical Responders were certified by the rescue squad.