The Early Years...
by L. Wayne Kidd, Life Member
In 1958 a small group on concerned Lakeside residents gathered to
discuss the formation of a rescue squad to serve the citizens of the
area. Out of those initial efforts began the Lakeside Volunteer Rescue
Squad.
As we prepare to celebrate 50 years of service to the community it
quickly becomes apparent that few of the original group remain. With
their passing much of the early history of the squad has been lost
forever. Though I did not have the pleasure of serving with many of the
charter members of LVRS, it was my honor to have known many of them. The
following pages are an attempt to preserve the history of the assorted
vehicles that have been used by the squad over the years and how many
were obtained and equipped. While much of this information is based on
personal knowledge some of it is based on the many hours I spent talking
with some of those from where it all began in 1958.
In January of this year I had the pleasure of attending the annual
Awards Banquet. The program contained a photo captioned "first
ambulance". Those charter members on the first day of service would have
I'm sure loved to have had such a fine vehicle to answer the first call.
Actually the first ambulance owned by LVRS was a well used 1937 or 38
Packard. If memory serves me this ambulance was donated by either
Henrico or Tuckahoe. The squad had also acquired an additional ambulance
of about the same age and unfortunately about the same condition. Both
of these units are shown in a photo that appeared September 30, 1958 in
a Richmond newspaper. Lakeside units were solid white with dark green
lettering and this would continue until 1976. Mr. Walter Rogers, a
charter member who can be seen third from the right in this photo,
related to me that during the early days it was not uncommon to go door
to door between calls asking for donations to buy oil and gas. In case
you did not notice I mentioned oil first as did Walter as both vehicles
used as much or more oil as they did gas. They weren't much but allowed
the "new" squad its start.
With both of these vehicles requiring constant repair to keep at least
one of them running the search began for a more modern, and dependable
replacement. Before the Squad was a year old it would have two "new"
ambulances.
The first was a 1958 Dodge "panel wagon" purchased used and "converted"
by squad members, a practice that would continue until the early 70s.
Equipment carried was by today's standard minimal. Air conditioning
would be another ten years down the road. Communications consisted of a
single channel "police" radio. All emergency communications in Henrico
County for police, fire and rescue would share this one frequency.
Lakeside units were assigned unit numbers 11 to 15 while Henrico units
were assigned 1 to 5 and Tuckahoe 6 to 10. Many of these early radios
required so muchweeks proved to be very interesting as squads from all
over the Richmond area and as far south as Petersburg began to call for
"the tool". It was so bad that the tool was taken off of the "big" crash
truck and placed on the small truck with a crew just for these calls.
The down side of the Hurst tool was that quickly squads became dependant
on it and soon few members were able to perform extrication with the old
methods in the event that the "tool" would not start, a common problem
with the original Chrysler 2-cycle power units.
1972 also saw Lakeside well into the Commonwealth's new Emergency
Medical Technician program. Two classes were graduated during the first
year and several of these individuals went on to become instructors.
Many others would go on to become what was then known as "cardiac
techs". The Virginia Department of Health began to inspect and license
ambulances.
1973 saw Lakeside begin the move to modular units. The first modular
purchased by Lakeside was built by Murphy Body Company on a GMC 1 ton
chassis. Murphy of Wilson NC was a new entry into the modular ambulance
field having built their business building refrigerated delivery truck
bodies. These units represented a significant move forward for Lakeside.
In addition to providing room needed for patient care while in transport
they allowed for capacity to carry the additional equipment that was now
required by the State. Also new was a lockable "drug box", built in
on-board 02 and suction equipment, I10 volt electrical power, separate
heat and a/c systems and headroom.
In 1974 the second Murphy was purchased, this one on a Chevrolet 1-ton
chassis. This unit was basically a twin to the 1973 with only minimal
upgrades but a much improved heating and a/c system. Like the first
Murphy this unit required a trip to the spring shop before it could be
placed in service to add several additional springs to the left side to
allow it to sit level. This unit along with the first modular body would
later be remounted to newer chassis extending the useful life of these
bodies.
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