42 AUGUST 2017 | EMSWORLD.com
M
aryland's Prince Frederick Volun-
teer Rescue Squad was estab-
lished in 1965. For its first six
years, the squad operated out of
a single bay in the Prince Frederick Volunteer
Fire Department. In 1971 a three-bay pre-
engineered metal building was constructed
on a donated piece of land, and the squad
established its physical presence in Prince
Frederick. It has now been operating from
this location for over 46 years.
In 1966, the squad's first full year of oper-
ation, it received 256 calls. Today the Prince
Frederick Volunteer Rescue Squad fields
over 2,500 calls a year with a team of 50
volunteer EMTs and a fleet of three ambu-
lances. Its emergency medical technicians
generously donate their time and expertise
to respond to medical emergencies in their
community. Because it's difficult today to
find volunteers and foster long-lasting par-
ticipation, it's a priority for the squad that its
building's design celebrates the skills and
sacrifices of these members and creates an
environment that encourages camaraderie,
community involvement and cultivation of
a new cohort of volunteers.
In 2013 the Calvert County Board of
County Commissioners published a com-
prehensive report that detailed the com -
munity's planned growth. Phase one of the
plan included expansion of the town center,
including Calvert Memorial Hospital, senior
citizen communities, single-family residen-
tial communities and employment centers.
As the area population grows, and with it
the number of emergency calls, the squad's
need for a facility capable of meeting its
community's needs is critical.
The Prince Frederick Volunteer Rescue Squad's new building will set a
standard for rescue organizations
By Stephen Burdette, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, and Dina Markakis, Assoc. AIA, CDT
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