Daughters of The American Revolution Wildreness Road Chapter Service Award
In 1995 Paul was elected Captain of the Wythe County Rescue Squad, a position he still holds in 2002. Paul became involved with District and State operations and began participating in annual State Conventions for Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads. In the District, he has served as Training Officer, Vice President,and Assistant Vice President. He participated in skill competitions, bringing home awards for the Wythe County Squad. He assisted Rescue College, and served on the state Life Membership Committee. Representing the State Organization, he also served on the Volunteer Management Committee and was State Camporee Chairman. Paul served as a Director on the Emergency Medical Services Council Board and on the board of the United Way of Wythe County. Hundreds of hours of training, he is certified in:
1.Emergency Medical Technician --which requires 110 hours of classroom, 10 hours of hospital training, Virginia State written test and 4 practical stations to pass.
2.Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation --recertifying every year for four years.
3.Emergency Vehicle Operators Course --16 hours of classroom, driving range, recertifying every four years.
4. Search and Rescue --16 hours classroom and practical every 4 years. He also serves on the Search and Rescue team for Wythe County.
5.Basic and Light Duty Rescue --32 hours classroom and practical every 4 years.
6.Vertical Rescue --32 hours classroom and practical every 4 years.
7.Shock Trauma --57 hours classroom and 30 hours hospital with State Test and 4 practical stations to pass. Recertifying every 3 years.
8.Basic Trauma Life Support--16 hours classroom with test and preactical stations every 2 years in Galax.
9.Infection Control--9 hours every 4 years with test to recertify.
10.Vehicle Extrication-- 16 hours of classroom and practical every 4 years.
11.Advanced Vertical Rescue--8 hours classroom and practical every 4 years.
Paul has been an instructor in EVOC for 9 years, teaching classes in six surrounding counties. He is an IT (Instructor Trainer for the Virginia Assoication Of Volunteer Rescue Squads.He also teaches at the Rescue College in Blacksburg at Virginia Tech and has helped with Instructor Update in Richmond. He coordinates mock disasters each year for the rescue squad, community hospital, and Med-Flight, a procedure that takes approximately 60 hours, meeting with hospital personnel, fire departments, securing "victims" and preparing make-up to simulate real injuries, preparing equipment, writing problems, and making sure the "patients" are recovered, treated and transported to medical facilities. Paul is also a member of the Wythe County Sheriffs Office Medic Team. He is called out all hours day and night to back up the sheriffs department in violent situations.
Paul and Salli Callahan of Wytheville, Virginia, work five jobs between the two of them, but still volunteer approximately 40 hours a week to the Wythe County Rescue Squad. Ten years ago, in 1991, Salli Callahan was traveling on Route 21 South when she came upon a vehicle accident. A very dear friend of hers lay bleeding and crushed on the highway. He had run his motorcycle into a truck and while Salli held his head in her lap, he died in her arms. She was devastated, and her frustration overwhelming as she was unable to do anything for him. Salli decided that night that she would never again be found in such a helpless condition. She called the Wythe County Rescue Squad and signed up for emergency first aid classes. In May of the same year, Salli talked her husband, Paul, into taking a basic first aid course. This step started both of them on an eleven training course that has helped save many lives. "I always thought first aid was nothing more than Band-Aids and gauze," said Salli. "Boy! Was I shocked! I had no idea of the medical service that could be offered." "The real reward is in being able to help," Paul said. "I can't ever imagine not doing it. It is a sacrifice...of family ...holiday dinners...time with the grandchildren...the pager going off in the middle of a pageant...but the family is very supportive." Both Paul and Salli joined the Wythe County Rescue Squad, a volunteer emergency medical team and in between their daily jobs, they give it all the time they can. Paul is a native Wythe Countian and operates his own heavy equipment company, Calco Construction. He does excavating and underground utility work and also owns Eye Witness Investigations in Wytheville, an investigation firm that handles child custody cases, workman's comp cases, domestic, and background checks for businesses and corporations.
Salli is a native of Thetford, Vermont, and came here from Greenville, S.C. She took a dental assisting course at Wytheville Community College and now is employed on a part-time basis for a dentist in Bland County. She does secretary work for Paul's businesses and sometimes runs a backhoe. And between all these activities, they are running calls or teaching classes. Paul took his first training as an instructor in 1992 with the Emergency Vehicle Operators Course to train new recruits to drive an ambulance. Two years later, he added the responsibilities of second lieutenant, assisted with the Rescue College in Blacksburg, and became District 7 Training Officer, while keeping his instructor's certificate updated. Salli and Paul Callahan placed 3rd in theDaughters of the American Revolution Wilderness Road Chapter Wytheville, Virginia Community Service Award Salli was elected Public Relations Officer in 1991 and became Search and Rescue instructor through the State Association. Also serving as secretary of the squad, she assisted with Search and Rescue class at Rescue College and has received 4 second place state awards and 4 first place awards for her scrapbook at the VRVAS Convention. In 1994 Salli took over the responsibility of treasurer of the Wythe County Rescue Squad, a position she still holds. Salli began assisting with other training courses such as the Infection Control classes at Blacksburg and served as a Board of Governors Alternate for the local squad for several years. She became certified as a Shock Trauma Technician in 1998 and a Cardiac Tech in 1999. In 2000 she came a coordinator for Advanced Life Support. She served as Second Lieutenant for the squad and still serves as a Board of Governors Alternate. While fulfIlling the same requirements as Paul to become certified in each course, Salli has been certified in/as:
1. Emergency Medical Technician.
2. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
3. Emergency Vehicle Operators Course.
4. Search and Rescue.
5. Basic and Light Duty Rescue.
6. Vertical Rescue.
7. Shock Trauma.
8. Advanced Cardiac Life Support .
9. Basic Trauma Life Support.
10. Infection Control.
11. Vehicle Extrication.
12. Cardiac Technician.
Salli is an instructor in Search and Rescue, Infection Control, Shock Trauma and ALS Coordination. She teaches at least one class a year in each category and sometimes three or four classes as needed. Each class is 9 hours long and she often has to go to Blacksburg,Abingdon,Galax or other counties for classes. Salli has won plaques and trophies for her scrapbooks, and her work in preparing the 50th anniversary celebration for the local squad. The Wytheville Moose Lodge presented her a Volunteer of the Year Award for Outstanding Service to the Community and to the Wythe County Rescue Squad. Through the leadership of Paul, Salli and the other officers, the Wythe County Rescue Squad received Volunteer Squad of the Year for 2001 and 2002, based on its community service and activities. Three hundred, twenty-three squads are eligible for this award.
