volunteer with us!
OPERATIONAL VOLUNTEER
Administrative VOLUNTEER
Administrative VOLUNTEER
Operational volunteers stand duty and respond to emergency calls in ambulances and rescue vehicles, providing high level, professional prehospital care as Nationally Registered and Virginia State Certified Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics.
Administrative VOLUNTEER
Administrative VOLUNTEER
Administrative VOLUNTEER
Administrative volunteers are non-operational integral components of our organization. They ensure finances are in order and bills are paid, medical supplies and equipment are purchased, members are scheduled for shifts, fundraisers are organized and so much more. They do not provide patient care, but are support specialists.
Applications and more:
Life on the beach
Minimums
Operational Rescue 4 members are required to provide 48 hours a month, generally split into two 24- or four 12-hour prescheduled shifts. Members are encouraged to provide additional time to station and administration projects, run for officer positions, take leadership rolls and staff ambulances as needed or on off-hours.
Training
Operational Candidates without current EMT certification will be required to attend our in-house, no-cost Basic Life Support (BLS) Academy held through the City of Virginia Beach Department of EMS. Successful graduates will receive their National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT), Commonwealth of Virginia EMT-Basic licensure, Emergency Vehicle Operations and Control certificate and more.
Administrative Candidates will attend an orientation through VBEMS and on-the-job training with Rescue 4 leadership.
Internship
Those who successfully complete the BLS Academy, and applicants who are current EMTs, Advanced-EMTs, and Paramedics will complete an Internship. This familiarizes the member with local procedures, policy and protocols and gradually introduces them into the organization. ALS Providers will be required to complete their Internship under a Field Training Officer, then complete an oral board with our Medical Director.
All of our members regardless of certification level are released as Tidewater EMS Council Providers, with reciprocity throughout the local area.
Why Join up?
Volunteering with us is a big commitment, but will be the experience of a lifetime. Some of the many benefits include:
- 100% free initial EMT training and certification.
- No cost continuing education, including in-house CEUs and admission to statewide training symposiums.
- Volunteer hours - at least 48/month.
- Invaluable patient contact and care experience in a very busy metropolitan 911 system.
- Leadership opportunities in operations, administration and management ranging from committee chairs to Officers and Field Supervisors.
- Initial and refresher formal training opportunities, including ACLS, PALS, PHTLS, TCCC and more.
- Scholarship opportunities for Paramedic school.
- Virginia Beach property tax incentives and Virginia State VOLSAP retirement stipend.
- Special Operations opportunities, including Marine/Water Rescue, Bike EMS team, Cart EMS team, SWAT Medic, Field Supervisor, and more.
- Becoming “Crisis Intervention Team” trained and providing care to mental health emergencies.
- and much, much more.
Most importantly, you’ll join a diverse family of dedicated professionals serving the community.
Volunteering with us will be some of the most challenging - but exceptionally rewarding - experiences of your life.
HOW TO JOIN
BECOMING A MEMBER OF RESCUE 4
Frequently Asked Questions:
- You DO NOT need City of Virginia Beach or Chesapeake Beach/Shore Drive residency to join. We have members from as close as a block away from the station to as far as Washington, D.C. and North Carolina.
- You DO NOT need previous experience! We’ll provide all the training, including EMT, for FREE.
- Already certified as an EMT, AEMT or Paramedic? We have a spot for you!
- Are you an EMT or AEMT interested in becoming a Paramedic? We offer scholarships through our partnership with VBEMS and local colleges to pay for your Paramedic school. You can use your on-duty time to gain critical ALS experience under Field Training Officers.
- Military members, college students and other select members are able to take advantage of flexible schedules to remain a part of the organization while deployed, during finals or midterms, etc.
- We do not offer a “Live In” program at this time.
- We do not provide firefighting or technical rescue opportunities, only ambulance-based EMS.
Learn More & Apply
Recruitment is handled by the City of Virginia Beach Department of EMS. Applications and additional information can be found on their website:
Ride Along: observer shift
Not sure if Rescue is for you? Want to see more about what our Squad does every day? Come ride along with us!
Contact us to learn more and schedule an observer shift with our volunteers!
Support & administrative member
Administrative volunteers are non-operational integral components of our organization. Help is always needed behind the scenes, from managing finances, to scheduling members to maintaining the supply and inventory of critical lifesaving supplies and equipment. Serve your community, build experience and gain a new family as an Administrative Member.
Learn about our system
Chesapeake Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad is one of the ten individual organizations that make up Virginia Beach EMS. This video from City of Virginia Beach Department of EMS Chief Brazle explains how our incredibly unique system works - to the benefit of the community.
See how you can go from no medical experience to an experienced and confident Emergency Medical Technician through our in-house state and nationally accredited EMT academy.