The LaVale Volunteer Rescue Squad has provided volunteer emergency medical services to the citizens and visitors of LaVale, Maryland and surrounding communities in Allegany County since 1969. Our mission is to deliver professional, reliable emergency medical care whenever it is needed.
We operate two Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances and one Basic Life Support (BLS) chase vehicle, providing emergency medical services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Our responses focus on medical emergencies involving patient care, ensuring that our resources are dedicated to situations where they are most needed.
In 2025, the Rescue Squad received 1,330 calls for service. While call volume has fluctuated over the years due to changes in community needs and response policies, the demand for high-quality emergency medical care in our service area remains consistent. Each response represents a person in need, and our members approach every call with professionalism and accountability.
The LaVale Volunteer Rescue Squad is a volunteer-based organization supported by a dedicated group of members who contribute thousands of hours each year. In addition to emergency responses, members spend significant time on standby, training, equipment readiness, administrative duties, and community support activities—all essential to maintaining a reliable emergency service.
Our organization is authorized to operate by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, and our providers maintain state certification. Initial and ongoing training for our emergency medical personnel is conducted through the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute at the University of Maryland, ensuring our members meet rigorous education and competency standards.
A Message from the Chief
Welcome, and thank you for taking the time to learn more about the LaVale Volunteer Rescue Squad.
Our organization exists for one reason: to serve our community with professional, reliable, and compassionate emergency medical care. Every call we respond to represents a moment when someone needs help, reassurance, and competence—and we take that responsibility seriously.
The members of the LaVale Volunteer Rescue Squad are committed to maintaining high standards in training, readiness, and patient care. Whether responding to medical emergencies, providing transport, or supporting community education efforts, our focus is always on delivering care that meets or exceeds applicable local and state standards. We continually evaluate our practices, equipment, and training to ensure we are prepared to meet the needs of our community today and into the future.
While our organization is volunteer-based, our approach is professional. Our members dedicate significant time to training, continuing education, and operational readiness, often balancing this service with full-time careers and family responsibilities. Their commitment reflects a shared belief that our community deserves dependable emergency medical services delivered with respect and accountability.
We are also mindful that strong emergency services do not exist in isolation. Our effectiveness depends on the trust and support of the community we serve, as well as close cooperation with our partner agencies. We value those relationships and work hard to be a reliable, responsible presence in LaVale and the surrounding area.
For those interested in learning more about our work—or exploring ways to become involved—we welcome your interest and encourage you to reach out. Community engagement, in all forms, helps strengthen the services we provide.
On behalf of our members, thank you for your interest in the LaVale Volunteer Rescue Squad. We are proud to serve this community and remain committed to continuously improving how we do so.
Scott Whetsell
Chief, LaVale Volunteer Rescue Squad
Our History
The Need Arises
In the late 1960s, it was realized that there was a desperate need for a rescue squad to provide emergency services beyond what was already being provided by the LaVale Volunteer Fire Department. The 1960s were really the beginning of what we know as modern EMS across the US, with the first rescue squad arising in Roanoke, Virginia. By 1969, community members had come together in LaVale to form the LaVale Volunteer Rescue Squad. By the end of the year, the rescue squad would answer 61 calls for service.
Our First Rescue Call
While we only provide EMS services today, our name, LaVale Volunteer Rescue Squad, harks back to the days when we provided rescue services in addition to ambulance services. Today, our sister agency, LaVale Volunteer Fire Department, provides rescue services to our area.
Our Station
Our first station was located on LaVale Avenue off Campground Road. In the 1970s, the rescue squad raised funds to purchase a Texaco gas station located at 977 National Hwy.
Shortly after acquisition of the Texaco station, the building was expanded and a second floor was added. This added living quarters for the live-in program, a kitchen, meeting and training area, office space, and a living room. In the 1990s, additional structure was added above the original Texaco station to add more training, office, and storage space.
After years of fundraising and hard work on the part of our volunteers, in 2013 we began a large renovation and expansion of the station to what you see today. We are incredibly proud that we paid for 100% of this renovation and expansion without having to borrow any money.
Our Apparatus
LaVale Volunteer Rescue Squad has three vehicles that make up our apparatus fleet. Both ambulances are certified as Advanced Life Support ready and are inspected annually by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS). Each unit carries top-of-the-line technology and equipment to help us provide the best emergency care possible, including LIFEPAK 15 cardiac monitors, Toughbook laptops with integrated FieldBridge, videolaryngoscopes, power-lift cots, and much more.
