The Christiansburg Life Saving and First Aid Crew
1947-1997
The Beginning
On March 25, 1947, Julian S. Wise was the guest speaker at a Lions Club meeting at the Virginia Inn Hotel, Christiansburg. Mr. Wise stressed the need for a Life Saving Crew in the county. On April 3, 1947 at a meeting at Harrison-Hancock Hardware, Lion Evans L. King suggested to the Lions Board of Directors that the club act as co-sponsor with the Christiansburg Fire Department to organize a First Aid Crew for the City. On May 22, 1947 at another meeting held at the Hardware, President L. C. "Beans" Walton announced a profit of $165 from a Donkey baseball game between the Lions Club and the Fire Department. These funds were set aside for the First Aid Crew. In August 1947 a second game netted the Crew $78.70 from the Lions Club.
The Lions Board of Directors discussed the candidates to serve on the First Aid & Lifesaving Crew in August 1947. Eddie Vest made a motion, seconded by A. O. Salmon, for the Board to approve the following candidates to serve: Cullen Murray, Captain; H. B. Edwards, Bloney Bailey, Dan Walters, Jack Graybeal, Frank Robertson, Frank Lawrence, Clyde King, Ed Chrisman, and Eddie Vance. These candidates were unanimously approved by the Boards as members of the First Aid Crew.
In October of 1952, the Lions Club donated the first two sets of splints to the Crew. At an organizational meeting of the First Aid Crew early in 1947, J. Cullen Murray, a Cambria businessman, was elected captain and at this time took charge of the meeting. Officers for the newly formed organization were elected from the men attending. These officers were: J. Cullen Murray, Captain; Hugh Edwards, Secretary; Frank Robinson, First Lt.; Clyde King, Second Lt.; Edwin Chrisman, Sgt.; Frank Lawrence, Treasurer. Because of the lack of their own facility, it was decided that the meeting would be held at the Christiansburg Fire Department.
During the next meeting a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws of the Roanoke Life Saving and First Aid Crew was presented and adopted. It was decided that the formal name of this organization would be Christiansburg Life Saving and First Aid Crew. Elected at this meeting were a legal advisor, Julius Goodman, and two medical advisors, Dr. Lee Cole and Dr. R. H. Grubbs.
In 1947 the American Red Cross had only one first aid course available for emergency care training. Professor Buford Blair of Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia, was contacted to teach the ten-hour basic course and fifteen-hour advanced first aid course to the crew. In June of 1947, S.C. Richardson was elected as president and Howard Bane as vice president assist in organizational matters. At the same time Julian Wise, captain of the Roanoke Life Saving & First Aid crew, was introduced to the crew. He informed them that he had an iron lung,* available through his employer, Southern Oxygen Company and offered to let it be placed on display during a drive to raise operating funds.
After observing the effect of the iron lung breathing assistance, the crew decided to purchase one at a cost of $1600. This piece of equipment was entered into a national pool and was shipped and used throughout the United States and several foreign countries. The squad still owns the iron lung. In June 1947, the crew decided to join Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads (VAVRS) at a cost of fifty cents per member. A donation was received in the amount of $1.00 from Julian Wise. Shortly thereafter, the Christiansburg Fire Department notified the crew it would lend them an ambulance and lighting equipment. This was the beginning of a long and lasting relationship with the Fire Department, which continues today. *Iron Lung - During the late 1940s and early 1950s, polio was widespread, leaving many people who contracted the disease with total or part paralysis. Many of these victims required assistance in breathing. The iron lung was a mechanical device in which the patient was placed with only his arms and head exposed to the outside. It operated on the principle of positive and negative air pressure, causing the patient's chest to rise and fall permitting air inhalation.
At this time it was decided to have our legal advisor, Mr. Goodman, incorporate the crew and to add the offices of reporter and chaplain, filled by Frank Shelton and The Rev. Roger Nelson, respectively.
In October 1947, S. C. Richardson, president of the crew and owner of Richardson's Funeral Home, offered the crew an option to purchase a Packard ambulance at a cost of $1500 with $500 of this amount to be donated back to the crew. The offer was accepted, and the ambulance was housed at the funeral home.
The year 1948 started off with the crew adding two positions to its membership, making a total of fifteen. This year also included the addition of an International one-ton panel truck ($1626.68) and two boats ($494.00) which were needed to respond to the increasing requests from nearby communities for assistance in water rescue. Mr. Sherill Starr designed and built a trailer to accommodate and transport the boats. With some modifications, we are still using the trailer today.
The 1950's
During the next few years the crew was very active in the community, teaching first aid classes, assisting with blood donations, working with the Civil Defense movement and transporting oxygen to local residents upon doctors' requests. The crew also moved out of its old quarters and into the old fire department quarters on Pepper Street which was vacated when the Fire Department moved into a new building.As a means of advising the community of its availability, the crew had 1,000 cards printed stating "When emergency strikes, call your first aid crew" and listing the names and telephone numbers of members. These cards were placed in local businesses and public telephone booths. At this time emergency assistance requests were received at Richardson's Funeral Home and the members were then notified by telephone that their services were needed. This system was later replaced by a tone-altering system was activated from the local Sheriffs department.
By 1954 requests for assistance had increased to a point that an additional vehicle was needed. A new Ford station wagon was purchased at a cost of $1,859.36, increasing the crew's rolling stock to two vehicles including the panel truck which had a two-way radio installed for communication. In 1950 the Ladies Auxiliary was organized by the crew, providing much needed support to the crew as well as assistance in many projects. This organization remains very active today and continues to support our efforts.