History of the Salem Rescue Squad
The Salem Life Saving Crew was organized November 15,1932. Minor W. Oakey was the first captain of the Salem Crew and describes the start of the Crew in his dissertation.
In 1932, Lewis A. "Tootie" Ballard, Chief of the Salem Fire Department, and I were sitting in his red touring car on Main Street opposite the Court House discussing the feasibility of starting a Life Saving crew in Salem, patterned after the Roanoke Crew, which was organized in 1928 by Julian Wise.
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Some of the first members of the Salem Rescue Squad render aid to a patient and show off equipment. (approximate date 1934.)
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"Tootie" asked me what I thought of the idea, and I said it was a good idea. Then I asked him who was going to be the first Captain and he said, "You are!"
This so surprised me, that I said I couldn't do it because I was so busy. He said, "The busy man is the only man who has time to do anything." With that, I said I would do my best to make a go of it.
The crew members were obtained mostly from the Salem Fire Department, Police Department, Street Department, and the Leas and McVitty Tannery.
Weekly meetings were held on the second floor of the Fire Department and First Aid equipment was kept in the back seat of the previously mentioned touring car.
Our instructors of the Standard and Advanced First Aid Courses were A. W. Reynolds and Jack Ferguson of the Roanoke Life Saving Crew. Later on, a course in Life Saving was given at the Roanoke College Swimming Pool.
As additional equipment was obtained, this meeting place became inadequate for our needs and identity. At that time, I presented our problem to our Town Manager, Mr. Broome, who took a one floor building adjacent to the Fire House and remodeled it to our needs, and which a number of our present members were well acquainted.
At that time, we added several oxygen tents, a boat, water rescue equipment, etc., so the need for a vehicle to haul this became essential.
I asked for volunteers to go on a note to buy this, but had no response, so member Burman Bowen and I went to the First National Exchange Bank and Mr. Tom Wirsing loaned us the money for our needs after leaving our signatures with him. With this money, we purchased a V-8 Ford Van Truck, which served for a number of years. To pay off this note, we had to put on plays at Salem High School Auditorium, located at the corner of College Avenue and 4th Street.
Realizing the need for additional money to survive and progress, I went before the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors asking for assistance, which they responded to in the amount of $100.00 per year.
At that time, we were not very popular with the medical profession, as they thought we were in competition with them, so we had a number of obstacles to overcome.
The Salem Life Saving Crew has progressed in the field of lifesaving since those early years, and is recognized as the second oldest volunteer crew in the world. Although the name has changed to the Salem Rescue Squad, the dedication still lives on, providing the very best in pre-hospital emergency medical care.
During the Salem Squad's Fiftieth Anniversary celebration held in 1982, we were honored to have Minor W. Oakey, first Captain and Charter Member of the Salem Rescue Squad to attend. Also there were Charter Members John P. Stevens and Hampton Barnett. Their willingness and support through those early years helped lay the foundation that has been built upon for the last fifty-two years. The Salem Rescue Squad's motto, "50 Years of Response for a Lifetime of Service - Service Through Knowledge," demonstrates the pride of its members.
From a handful of volunteers, the Squad has now reached to over 55 total members, including life members. The Squad runs over 2,200 emergency calls a year and operates with four Advanced Life Support ambulances, one light duty crash truck, one 4-wheel drive utility vehicle, one cardiac response vehicle, and, two boats. Besides rendering aid to the public, training and updating skills is a top priority item. The Salem Squad presently has eight Paramedics, two Cardiac Techs, eight Shock Trauma Techs, and the remainder trained as EMTs.
The Salem Rescue Squad is proud of its citizens and being a part of the Community and member of the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads.
Reprinted from the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads 50th Annual Convention Commemorative Collection of Squad/Crew Histories, 1984.
