Junior Squad

Requirements, Contact Information and Application Packet

Parent Information

Parent Involvement

Parents are the key to success of this program.  Rutherford County Rescue Squad (RCRS) understands that you are this child’s parent and we wish to operate within our mutual guidelines.  Your input is very valuable and you can expect a monthly teleconference with the Junior Advisor to maintain open lines of communication between yourself and the squad.

Training

Your child will receive training in the following areas:

• *Vehicle Extrication

• *Medical

• *Blood borne Pathogens

• *CPR

• *Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT)

• *Documentation

• *Scene Safely

• *Other pertinent skills

Junior Squad members train alongside senior squad members to develop the same skills.  Training exercises are conducted in a controlled environment by a qualified instructor and advance notice will be given.

Duty

Should your child be accepted into the Junior Squad, he/she will be expected to complete shifts of extrication duty at the station.  This involves all aspects of senior squad shift coverage, to include but not limited to, cleaning and maintenance of the building, tools and vehicles and responding to motor vehicle accidents in Rutherford County.  RCRS operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  We highly discourage students from completing overnight shifts on school nights.  Our senior squad members complete 12 hour shifts (0600-1800 and 1800-0600), but it will be our policy to allow flexibility to Junior Squad members.  Upon acceptance, members will be given a list of approved senior squad partners and their telephone numbers.  These individuals are among our most experienced and are able to serve as mentors for the development of skills in emergency services and individual life callings.  It will be the responsibility of the Junior Squad member to contact a senior partner to arrange  for the completion of duty.

Uniform

In conjunction with the dress code of senior staff, all Junior Squad members are required to purchase one grey dress shirt ($25).  Additionally, squad members must wear dark blue EMS style pants, black shoes and black belt while on shift.  An optional grey rescue t-shirt may be purchased in addition to the dress shirt.  RCRS will facilitate the purchase of the uniform shirt through our uniform provider.

On Scene’s

Most questions you will have will lie under this section; therefore we will be as specific as possible.  Please remember to get all your questions answered during the interview which will later be determined.

• RCRS responds emergency traffic (lights, sirens) to all Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVAs)

  • *Seatbelts are required by all members (Junior and Senior)

  • *All vehicle operators have been certified in Emergency Vehicle Operation as set forth by the State of Tennessee and the approved senior partners are  among our best and safest.

• For protection, all members don personal protective equipment for extrications, including but not limited to:

  • *Turnout / Bunker Gear (Fire and Puncture protection)

  • *Fire Helmet with facemask or goggles

  • *Fire boots

  • *Latex gloves (Blood Borne Pathogens resistant)

  • *Fire Gloves

• On scene of non-extrication MVAs

  • *Junior squad members will assist EMS and Rescue crews in assessing patients

  • *Assist in preparing patients for transport

• On scene of an extrication (forceful removal of patient in a vehicle or building)

  • *Assist senior members in performing scene survey to assess situation

  • *Assist in staging (setting out) and preparing tools needed for extrication

  • *Assist senior members by observing the scene from a safe distance and watching scene for hazards

  • *Upon patient removal, all duties listed above for non-extrication MVAs apply

  • *Assist senior partners in properly returning all tools to the truck

• All Junior Squad members are covered under RCRS employee insurance plan which covers and medical costs associated with on scene accident or accidental death.

No Junior Squad member will be allowed into the “action circle” during an active extrication.  This is training for future career and volunteer involvement.  It is an opportunity to lean about and observe extrication techniques.

Rules for Activity of Applicants and Members of Rutherford County Rescue Squad who are between Ages 15 to 18

1. The applicant must provide the membership committee with a copy of their most recently issued report card from the school they are currently enrolled in. The applicant must have a “C” average or better in all subjects to be eligible for probationary membership. Should an applicant not be presently enrolled in a daily school program, they must be enrolled in a certified GED program, and the instructor of the GED program must provide a letter advising that the student is maintaining a satisfactory progress level. All probationary members must present a copy of each quarterly report card they receive to the Chief within 5 days after receive it from the school. Students who are enrolled in GED programs must present either a report card or a letter from the instructor each quarter indicating satisfactory performance. Failure to maintain a “C” average or satisfactory performance level in a GED program shall cause immediate suspension from all activity related to the Rescue Squad and the probationary member shall not be authorized to enter the Rescue Squad property without the express permission of the Chief.

3. All probationary members under the age of 18 shall leave the Rescue Squad premises before 2200 hr. any evening on which school is scheduled on the next day. Generally this rule applies to Sunday through Thursday evenings. In addition, all probationary members under the age of 18 shall at the beginning of each semester provide the Chief a copy of their class schedule. Probationary members under the age of 18 shall NOT spend any time on Squad property during the school day when they are scheduled for classes, study hours, work/study, or lunch periods.

5. When school is not in session any probationary member shall be authorized to remain in the building until 2300 hr.

7. Probationary members shall only be allowed to spend a duty night on Friday or Saturday night and only with the prior specific approval of the Chief and the Parents or Guardians and the probationary members shall not be eligible to stay a duty night unless they are cleared to ride either on an a piece of apparatus.

9.   During the summer time a probationary member may spend up to (2) two duty nights per week.

11. Designees of the membership shall meet with all applicants under the age of 18 and their parents at the applicant’s home prior to the applicant’s interview with the Board of Directors.

13. A parent or guardian of all applicants under the age of 18 should accompany the applicant during their interview with the Board of Directors.

Application Process...

1. The following process must be completed in its entirety to be eligible for selection.

2.  

3.  

Obtain a valid application from the Junior Squad Advisor.

Complete APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP section of this packet.

Obtain three (3) letters of recommendation from community members;

1. One letter must be from a current school teacher;

2. Two letters from any other member of the community, excluding parent or legal guardian;

3. All letters must be sealed in individual envelopes with author’s signature on the seal.

Secure a photocopy of the following:

1. Social Security Card

2. Driver’s License (if applicable)

3. Insurance ID card (if applicable)

Obtain most recent progress report from school

Obtain most recent attendance record from school

Write an essay (400-800 words) explain the following:

1. How you would be an asset to the Rutherford County Rescue Squad’s Junior Squad, and;

2. Explain why you want to become a member of the Rutherford County Rescue Squad’s Junior Squad.

Arrange a meeting with the Junior Squad Advisor, one parent or guardian and yourself

Have parent or legal guardian read, obtain notary and sign the Parent Information Form and the Release of Liability Form.

Assemble all completed forms, letters, photocopies and essay and place in a 9x12 sealed envelope with your Full Name and Junior Application in the upper right hand corner.

Submit this envelope at the Rutherford County Rescue Squad station or to the Junior Squad Advisor.

Complete an interview with the Junior Squad Advisor, Captain and Chief (you will be notified of this interview at a later time).

Here is what you have to do:

If you are interested, come ride with us a few times, see what you think. If you know you want to do this, go ahead and fill out the membership application.

CLICK HERE complete the Junior Squad Application Packet. Bring it by the station once complete.

Contact Craig Browning at 615-895-0717 or via email for further

information regarding Rutherford County Rescue Squad's Junior Program.