HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-01-2021; 4-a - Proclamation Designating June 11, 2021 as South Orange Rescue Squad Day ORANGE COUNTY 1
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 1, 2021
Action Agenda
Item No. 4-a
SUBJECT: Proclamation Designating June 11, 2021 as South Orange Rescue Squad Day
DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners
Emergency Services
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Proclamation Clerk's Office, (919) 245-2130
Kirby Saunders, (919) 245-6100
PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation recognizing South Orange Rescue Squad's 50'
Anniversary and designating June 11, 2021 as South Orange Rescue Squad Day in Orange
County.
BACKGROUND: In 1968, the Orange County Rescue Squad in Hillsborough was formed and
emergency medical services and ambulance transport began in Hillsborough. Early in 1971,
members of the business community in Carrboro and Chapel Hill and volunteers from the Carrboro
Fire Department met to address the issue of supplying emergency medical services and
ambulance transport for the rest of the County. As a result of that meeting, and with a gift of an
ambulance from Orange County Rescue Squad, the South Orange Rescue Squad was formed on
June 11, 1971. Funds were donated, a building was built on land donated by Mr. Edward Yaggy,
and the organization began and continues to provide emergency medical services to the Orange
County community. In 1991, the Squad began to provide rescue services, and in 1992 began
providing technical rescue services to the residents of Orange County and surrounding areas.
Since its founding, the South Orange Rescue Squad has provided countless hours of training for
thousands of volunteers and residents and has engaged in countless hours of specialized training
and continuing education to enhance life-saving skills.
On June 11, 2021, the South Orange Rescue Squad will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. A
proclamation recognizing the Squad on its 50th anniversary, as well as designating June 11, 2021
as South Orange Rescue Squad Day in Orange County, is attached for Board consideration.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with consideration of the
proclamation.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: There is no Orange County Social Justice Goal impact associated
with this item.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There is no Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal
impact associated with this item.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve and authorize the
Chair to sign the proclamation and direct the Clerk to the Board to forward the proclamation to the
South Orange Rescue Squad.
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 2
PROCLAMATION
South Orange Rescue Squad Day—June 11, 2021
WHEREAS, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is a vital public service; and
WHEREAS, Technical Rescue, including high-angle, swiftwater, and land search are vital public
services; and
WHEREAS, CPR and Community Education are vital public services, and
WHEREAS, South Orange Rescue Squad is made up entirely of volunteers who provide these
vital public services to the residents of Orange County with no compensation to themselves; and
WHEREAS, before the founding of South Orange Rescue Squad, transportation from southern
Orange County to a hospital was provided by the Chapel Hill Funeral Home; and
WHEREAS, members of the Carrboro Fire Department and residents of Carrboro and Chapel
Hill joined together to form the South Orange Rescue Squad in 1971; and
WHEREAS, the people of Chapel Hill and Carrboro donated the money to build South Orange
Rescue Squad's station which was completed in 1974; and
WHEREAS, the volunteers of South Orange Rescue Squad have been serving the Orange
County public and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill by providing EMS since the
first week of June 1971; and
WHEREAS, the volunteers of South Orange Rescue Squad began providing rescue services to
the residents of Orange County and surrounding areas in 1991 and technical rescue services in
1992; and
WHEREAS, South Orange Rescue Squad has trained more than two thousand volunteers over
the past 50 years, many of whom have dedicated their careers to public safety and providing
medical care to the residents of North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, since 1971 the volunteers of South Orange Rescue Squad have engaged in countless
hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their life-saving skills; and
WHEREAS, since 2006 South Orange Rescue Squad has trained more than 10,000 Orange
County residents by providing free CPR classes; and
WHEREAS, South Orange Rescue Squad contributes its volunteer EMTs and its ambulances to
respond to the needs of the residents of Orange County through regular scheduling in the 911
System, as well as providing surge coverage and additional resources when needed; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to recognize and appreciate the value and accomplishments of the
50 years of service of South Orange Rescue Squad;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners,
do hereby proclaim June 11, 2021 as South Orange Rescue Squad Day in recognition of the
Squad's 50th anniversary of service to the Orange County community.
This the 1 st day of June, 2021.
Renee Price, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners