OCEMA Services Page

Rescue Squads

Oconee County Rescue Squad

1. Description of Current Organization

The Oconee County Rescue Squad is composed of 170 volunteers and is made up of six rescue squad divisions plus the County Dive Team and a Special Rescue Team:

Seneca Rescue Squad (ER-1)

Chief: Brenda Roach

Asst. Chief: Travis Nix

Salem Rescue Squad (ER-2)

Chief: Keith Wilbanks

Asst. Chief: Phil Clayton

Oakway Rescue Squad (ER-3)

Chief: James Mast

Asst. Chief: Allen Mason

Walhalla Rescue Squad (ER-4)

Chief: William Tatum

Asst. Chief: Joey Smith

Westminster Rescue Squad (ER-5)

Chief: Michael Smith

Asst. Chief: Charlie Miller

Mt. Rest Rescue Squad (ER-6)

Chief: Lynn Wilbanks

Asst. Chief: Mark Fuller

In addition, there are three sub station locations as follows:

	Keowee Key Fire Dept. – ER-2
	Fair Play School – ER-3
	Long Creek Fire Dept. – ER-5

Functions

	Medical First Responders
	Search and rescue
	Vehicle extrication
	Special needs monitoring and transport
	Fire rehab
	Radiological emergency worker
	Medical standby for community activities
	Transport of emergency workers during severe weather
	Assist with debris removal as needed
	Body transport
	Canine search and rescue to include cadaver
	911 address marker program

In addition, the following organizations are also included in the Oconee Rescue Squad Organization:

Oconee County Dive Team Functions:

	Lake search and rescue and body recovery
	Assist Special Rescue with swiftwater body recovery
	Assist in vehicle and other vessel recovery, as appropriate
	Assist Sheriff’s Dept. in evidence recovery, as appropriate

Composition: 26 volunteers

Dive Team Coordinator: Bob Kinder

Dive Team Captain: Bill McClaskey

Certifications

	Basic Diver (required)
	Advanced Diver (required)
	CPR/Vitals (required)
	Bloodborne Pathogens (Required)

Oconee County Special Rescue Team (Learn about the NASAR AWARD)

Functions

	Swiftwater Search and Rescue
	Swiftwater body recovery
	High and low angle rescue
	Confined Space Rescue
	Wilderness Search and Rescue

Composition: 15 Volunteers

Special Rescue Team Coordinator: Jeff Dover

Special Rescue Team Captain: Dallas Hardin

Certifications

	Swiftwater Tech I (Basic)
	Swiftwater Tech II (Advanced)
	Rope Rescue
	Bloodborne pathogens (required)
	Confined Space Rescue
	SCBA
	CPR/Vitals (required)

2. Current Volumes and Growth History View Historical and Current Data

The Oconee County Rescue Squad responded to 4054 rescue squad calls in 2003 compared to 3945 calls in 2002. Of this total, over 95% were medical first responder calls.

The County Dive Team has averaged responding to six lake drownings per year. In 2003, the County Dive Team responded to 10 drowning calls (8 actual drownings and 2 near drownings).

The Special Rescue Team responded to 20 land Search and Rescues, three swiftwater recoveries on the Chattooga River, and one drowning recovery at Lower Whitewater Falls in 2003.. Normally, the Special Rescue Team responds to at least one body recovery in the Chattooga River each year and about 20 land search and rescues per year.

All of the above totals are expected to increase as Oconee County continues to grow and more and more people are involved in recreational activities such as hiking, boating, swimming, and swiftwater rafting.