Charleston County Volunteer Rescue Squad

The Charleston County Volunteer Rescue Squad supports the community and fellow responders by carrying out land-based and marine rescues and recoveries. These include vehicle extrication, urban, rural and marine search and rescue, large animal rescue, response to boating, diving and drowning accidents, fatality transport, and medical first response for Charleston County Emergency Medical Services. In addition, the Rescue Squad provides rehabilitation support for emergency service units and medical first response and transport at large public events.

For more information, please visit the organization's website at www.CharlestonRescue.com.

History

The organization began in 1962 as the North Charleston Volunteer Rescue Association under charter from the state of South Carolina with an original focus on automobile accidents, search & rescue, and recoveries. In 1973, its scope was expanded to include all of Charleston County and over time it has added specialized skills, equipment, and training to allow it to execute its current rescue and recovery mandate.

In 2003, the Rescue Squad moved into its current headquarters, large enough to accommodate most of its apparatus and equipment, with several pieces stationed in other parts of Charleston County to allow for rapid response in a land/water footprint of over 1,300 square miles. It is worth noting that the population of the County that we serve has increased by 45% from over 275,000 in 1980 to over 400,000 at present. In addition, decades of commercial and residential development fueled by economic growth have converted forest land in the northern and southern ends of what is the largest county in the state.

Donations from the community, fundraising efforts and financial support from Charleston County make up the Squad's annual budget.