BELL COUNTY RESCUE SQUAD

"VOLUNTEERS THAT CARE"
ESTABLISHED SEPTEMBER
1959


 

OUR HISTORY

OUR SERVICES

OUR MEMBERS

MEMBERSHIP

PICTURES

Rescue Squad born out of local tragedy


Through their efforts, the Rescue Squad was formed in 1959. A Charter from the State of Kentucky was obtained Jan. 26, 1960 under the name Middlesboro Emergency and Rescue Squad, Inc. The Rescue Squad had 12 charter members who had no funds or equipment. The first piece of equipment purchased was a one-half ton G.M.C. panel truck purchased on a time payment plan. On October 2, 1968, the Rescue Squad had its name officially changed to the Bell County Rescue Squad, Inc. Today the Rescue Squad now has an active roster of 22 members, 5 paramedics and 8 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT'S)

The squad has 2 Extrication Trucks , one 4WD transport unit, 2,  4WD command units, Special Response trailor, three A.T.V.'s, four multi-purpose boats and one Zodiak boat, plus 2  4WD Mules which is used to remove patients from mountainous terrain.

“This was made possible, because this organization is made of dedicated, caring, people, who are willing to volunteer their time to help our community,” Killion said. The Bell County Rescue Squad is a non-profit organization that provides 24 hour-a-day specialized rescue services for Bell County, as well as mutual aid assistance to the Tri-State area through the efforts of 23 strictly volunteer members. Members of the squad are not only unpaid, they often take time from their own jobs to respond to emergencies in the area.

The squad has specialized teams in many areas such as: Vehicle rescue, search and rescue with aid from K-9 units, vertical rope rescue, cave rescue, swift water rescue and recovery, and rough terrain rescue. Members spend more than a thousand man-hours annually training in these and other areas, such as trench rescue, confined space and farm machinery rescue. “We also assist other agencies such as ambulance services, the coroners office, law enforcement, and the fire departments, in a support capacity, such as providing lights for scene reconstruction” Killion said. “The Rescue Squad is always looking for new members. If you are a hard working, caring person, who enjoys helping others, perhaps this is the place for you.”

The Rescue Squad is especially busy during the Spring and Summer months with water rescue and recoveries, as well as A.T.V. and mountain rescues — they average about four per month. They are also busy during this time with their annual fund drive, which ends Sept. 30.

The Rescue Squad is a non-profit, all volunteer organization that operates solely on donations. . If interested in making a donation you can contact any member of the Rescue Squad for details about the fundraiser. For information about joining the rescue squad or making a donation please call

606-248-7444.