Blog Posts

Spring Plant Sale Fundraiser

5/11/2021

The Great Neck Point Garden Club Fundraiser

The Great Neck Point Garden Club will be hosting a fundraising plant sale to benefit Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad. These high-quality local plants will come from gardening professionals who can answer all your questions about planting and care. May 15th, 9am-12pm at the Shore Drive Farm Market.
Rain Date: May 22nd

Featured Plants:
Fatisa Japonica
Windmill Palms
Hostas
Bear's Breechs
Aucuba
Lynnhaven Carpet
Vinca
Asters
Aloe
Jade
Mint
Much more!

Ambulance Anoucement

4/7/2021

Three Ambulances In Production

You heard us right, three beautiful new ambulances are in the works for OPVRS. You made this happen. Your continued support helped purchase the best and safest equipment for your community.

From: Atlantic Emergency Solutions:

We’re expecting…TRIPLETS!
We are excited to partner with the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad (City of Virginia Beach) on THREE new Wheeled Coach Type 1 ambulances. Before you know it, this trio will be serving the citizens of Virginia Beach. Thank you for your business and welcome to the Atlantic family!
Jeff Hawkins-Regional Account Manager
Virginia Sales
DETAILS:
• 2022 Ford F-550 4x2 Chassis
• Custom Aluminum Center Console Sprayed w/Black Line-X
• Wheeled Coach Type 1 170” Module
• 74” Interior Headroom
• Custom Squad Bench w/Curbside Controls and (2) Drawers
• Per4Max 4-Point Harnesses
• Gray Scorpion Liner Coating in Exterior Compartments
• Cool Bar A/C Condenser
• Hoseline APS-253 Ultraviolet Air Purification System
• Orange Powder Coated Interior Hand and Grab Rails
• Whelen M Series LED Warning and Scene Light Package
• (2) Grover Stuttertone 24” Air Horns
• Whelen Howler Low Frequency Siren
• LED Strip Lights in Exterior Compartments
• Safety Vision (3) Camera System
• CompX 300 Series eLock w/WiFi on Drug Cabinet
• Vanner 20-1050 1,050-watt Inverter w/55-amp Battery
Charger
• Stryker #6390 Power-LOAD
• Ferno M200 Lifepak Defibrillator Bracket
• Custom Paint, Lettering and Graphics by Wheeled Coach

Building Renovations Underway!

12/18/2020

Station 1 is getting a facelift!

Renovations are underway! The station is temporarily closed while we refurbish. Don't worry! We've moved our ambulances and supplies to First Landing Fire & Rescue at Shore/Great Neck and Chesapeake Beach Fire & Rescue at Shore/Greenwell. Thanks to
Chesapeake Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad for letting us hang out with y'all for a few days. Your Ocean Park Volunteers are still on the job and ready to answer the call for help across Shore Drive and Virginia Beach.

Notice:
1. While volunteer members will be helping with the work, the station is not equipped to handle walk-in emergencies during renovations. For medical emergencies dial 911.

2. The Ocean Park Food Pantry will be closed and temporarily removed to keep it clean and safe. It will return once exterior work is complete.

January 2021 Blood Drive

12/17/2020

Virginia Beach: Start 2021 off right!

Start 2021 off right! Give the gift of life and know that you made a difference in 2021. This year we need help more than ever. Low donor turn-out nationwide has created an emergency need for blood. Schedule your appointment now, and you can even fill out the pre-screening questions BEFORE you arrive! Saving you time in your day.
Visit donateblood.opvrs.com to make your appointment now.

Plant Sale Fundraiser

9/17/2020

Garden Club to host fundraiser for OPVRS

The Great Neck Point Garden Club will be hosting a fundraising plant sale to benefit Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad. These high-quality local plants will come from gardening professionals who can answer all your questions about planting and care. September 26th, 9am-12pm at the Shore Drive Farm Market.
Rain Date: October 5th

Featured Plants include:
Poets Laurel
Fatsia Japonica
Grasses
Bear’s Breeches
Windmill Palms
Lynnhaven Carpet
Lamb’s Ear
Asters
Chive
Plant Contains
Vases
And much more!

Bruce W. Edwards VB EMS HQ

8/25/2020

THE BRUCE W. EDWARDS VIRGINIA BEACH EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES HEADQUARTERS AND TRAINING CENTER

REQUESTED BY CITY COUNCIL
A RESOLUTION RENAMING THE VIRGINIA BEACH EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES HEADQUARTERS AND TRAINING CENTER AS "THE BRUCE W. EDWARDS VIRGINIA BEACH EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES HEADQUARTERS AND TRAINING CENTER"

WHEREAS, Bruce W. Edwards served as Chief of the Department of Emergency Medical Services for the City of Virginia Beach for 32 years;

WHEREAS, he was the longest serving member in the history of Virginia Beach Emergency Medical Services, and he was the longest-tenured CPR instructor, paramedic and administrator in the state;

WHEREAS, former Chief Edwards's 42-year career in emergency medical services in Virginia Beach began in 1967 when he joined the Ocean Park Volunteer Fire and Rescue Unit, where he rose to the rank of Assistant Fire and Rescue Chief:

WHEREAS, in 1973, he became Executive Director of the Emergency Coronary Care Program of Virginia Beach, Inc., a federally funded program that produced the first advanced life support technicians in the Commonwealth of Virginia;

WHEREAS, as coordinator of the Office of Emergency Medical Services for the City from 1975 to 1984, he was responsible for pre-hospital emergency patient care and training programs, and in 1984, he was promoted to Chief of the Department of Emergency Medical Services;

WHEREAS, Chief Edwards led an EMS Department with more than 1,500 career and volunteer rescue and fire personnel, and in addition to supervising all EMS operations in the City, he regulated private ambulance services and Oceanfront lifeguard operations;

WHEREAS, the demand for EMS services grew from around 8000 annual calls for assistance when Chief Edwards assumed leadership of the department to approximately 44,000 annual calls upon his retirement in 2016:

WHEREAS, in addition to serving our City, Chief Edwards served his state with distinction, receiving gubernatorial appointments to the State Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board in 2006 and to the Virginia Board of Health in 2009, for which he was selected as Chair in 2011:

WHEREAS, he earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Old Dominion University, he served his nation as a member of the United States Navy Reserve;

WHEREAS, his numerous accolades include the Governor's Award as the Outstanding EMS Administrator in the Commonwealth in 1996 and the 2012 Virginia Beach Rescue Squad Foundation Virginia Gilpin Distinguished Service Award:

WHEREAS, in 2016, upon his retirement, the House of Delegates adopted a resolution commending his service to our City and the Commonwealth, and the City bestowed upon him the title of "Chief Emeritus," in which capacity he continued to serve the City as a volunteer mentor and advisor to the department; and

WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to express its deep appreciation for former Chief Edward's decades of exemplary public service to our City by renaming the City's EMS headquarters and training center in his memory:

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA:

1. That the Virginia Beach Emergency Medical Services Headquarters and Training Center, located at 4160 Virginia Beach Boulevard, is hereby renamed as "The Bruce W. Edwards Virginia Beach Emergency Medical Services Headquarters and Training Center": and

2. That the City Manager is hereby directed to take all steps necessary to revise all signage for the facility and all other references to the facility to include this new name.

Smart911 Comes To Virginia Beach

7/7/2020

Vital information to and from first responders. Free to the community.

Virginia Beach 911 will be rolling out a new feature for mobile phones called Smart911. Smart911 shares information you provide to 911 Dispatchers:

Medical Information.
Emergency Contact information.
Home Address, Vehicle Make/Model.
Pet Information.
And More!

Smart911 also ties into VB Alerts for Virginia Beach residents. VB Alerts include:

Weather watches and warnings
Evacuation announcements
Rabid animal alerts
Police, fire or EMS activity
Hazardous Materials Incident
Boil water advisories
Transportation disruptions (road closures, major traffic incidents)

Smart911 will work in any jurisdiction across the country that participates in the program.

AmazonSmile for Mobile Devices

6/11/2020

AmazonSmile available for iOS and Android

AmazonSmile customers can now support Ocean Park Volunteer Fire And Rescue Unit Inc in the Amazon shopping app on iOS and Android mobile phones! Simply follow these instructions to turn on AmazonSmile and start generating donations.

Open the Amazon Shopping app on your device
Go into the main menu of the Amazon Shopping app and tap into 'Settings'
Tap 'AmazonSmile' and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

If you do not have the latest version of the Amazon Shopping app, update your app. Click here for instructions.

You Shop. Amazon Gives.
Set up AmazonSmile for your account now.

Emergency Blood Drive, July 2020

6/10/2020

American Red Cross blood supply is critically low.

The American Red Cross has requested an additional Emergency Blood Drive in July. Supplies are critically low and donors are needed more than ever. Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad is known throughout Hampton Roads for having the highest Blood Drive turnout and most engaging community, now we're being asked to help again.

This Emergency Blood Drive will include COVID-19 antibody testing.

Schedule your appointment at https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=opvrs

Germ Mold Buster supports OPVRS

5/27/2020

Protect Your Home, Protect Your Community

The Germ Mold Buster company has set up a unique promo code to benefit Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad. Every purchase you make supports the volunteer rescue squad.
Visit www.germmoldbuster.com and at check out use promo code: OPRESCUE

"We cannot say enough good things about the UVC Disinfection lights you have provided to Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad. So far, they have been durable, easy to operate and seem to be doing a very good job both in the cab and patient compartments of our ambulances. We are also rotating them through the Station living spaces with regularity. The simplicity and flexibility of the product allows our crews to easily deploy the lights between calls and we have now established a shift change routine that provides longer exposure times for the ambulance going off-duty. I have to say that it is so simple it sometimes feels like we are doing nothing, but in trusting the science and after researching a number other products, we were proud to work with a local vendor who has gone out of their way to make sure the Squad had what was needed to help protect our Providers and Patients."

- Jay Kerr, President. Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad