Watauga County Rescue Squad

06/01/2026

Another busy week and weekend for your Watauga County Rescue Squad team! In addition to running various calls, our members were present for training on Thursday night, Heart of a Pioneer on Friday, and the Iron Sharpens Iron event on Saturday, where we were out performing ECG screenings on our local athletes and teaching life saving skills like Stop the Bleed and Hands Only CPD to children from across Watauga County. We also responded to assist Avery County with mutual aid request for a reported subject in the river. On Sunday, the busy trend continued with the squad responding to a traffic accident and a traumatic injury call in the early evening hours.

We’re proud to support our community and appreciate all of the support you’ve given us!

05/25/2026

🇺🇸 Memorial Day | Watauga County Rescue Squad 🇺🇸

Today, we pause to honor and remember the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. Their courage, selflessness, and unwavering commitment to protecting our country and the freedoms we enjoy will never be forgotten.

Memorial Day is more than a long weekend or the unofficial start of summer — it is a solemn reminder of the tremendous cost of liberty and the sacrifices made by service members and their families throughout our nation’s history.

At Watauga County Rescue Squad, we extend our deepest gratitude to all who gave their lives in defense of our country. We also remember and honor the families, friends, and loved ones who carry their legacy forward each day.

As we gather with family and friends today, may we take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of this day and remember those who never made it home.

We remember. We honor. We are grateful.

🇺🇸 Land of the free, because of the brave.

05/17/2026

🚑💙 EMS Week 2026 💙🚑

This week, we proudly recognize and celebrate EMS Week — a time to honor the dedication, sacrifice, and commitment of Emergency Medical Services professionals across our nation and here at home in Watauga County.

At Watauga County Rescue Squad, our members answer the call at all hours of the day and night, in all types of weather and terrain, providing emergency medical care, rescue services, and support to our community when it matters most. From critical medical emergencies and cardiac arrests to motor vehicle collisions, technical rescues, wilderness incidents, and community events, our volunteers stand ready to serve.

EMS is more than lights and sirens — it’s compassion during someone’s worst day, calm in the middle of chaos, and a commitment to helping others without hesitation.

We would also like to recognize our incredible partners throughout the Watauga County EMS System, including Watauga County EMS, local fire departments, law enforcement, emergency communications personnel, hospital staff, air medical crews, and neighboring agencies. Emergency response is truly a team effort, and we are grateful to stand beside each of you in service to our community.

To our volunteers and EMS professionals everywhere: thank you for your countless hours, missed holidays, sleepless nights, training, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to patient care and public safety.

We are proud to serve.
We are proud to answer the call.
And we are proud to support EMS.

05/15/2026

Tomorrow is one of our favorite days of the year!!! Come see all of your local first responders at Emergency Fest! Fun and education for all ages!!!!

📆 May 16th, 2026
🕚 10am-1pm
📍 Watauga High School

See you there!!!!

We are two weeks out from this year's Emergency Fest at Watauga High School! Get ready to get up close to some BIG TRUCKS and some local First Responder Rock Stars!!! Do you have what it takes to be a hero? Come hang out with some of ours! 10:00-1:00 on Saturday, May 16th!

05/09/2026

This year has already been a busy one for Watauga County Rescue Squad, and we’re proud to share a snapshot of the work our volunteers have been doing across Watauga County and beyond. From EMS standbys and cardiac arrests to technical rescues, MVCs, fire responses, community events, and mutual aid requests — our members continue to answer the call whenever needed. This is in addition to all of the time our team spends training, meaning more time away from their families.

Today was another great example of teamwork and community partnership in action. Our members were proud to provide medical coverage and support during Live Burn Training exercises alongside our partners from Boone Fire Department and Deep Gap Fire Department. Training opportunities like these help strengthen interagency cooperation and ensure all of us remain prepared to serve our community safely and effectively.

We also want to recognize and congratulate several of our members who celebrated graduations and educational milestones this weekend, and in the coming weeks. We celebrate the graduations of Ryan Lloyd and Ryan Douthart (Undergraduate- Bachelor's in Psychology), Kalista Tucker (Graduate- Masters in Medical Science- Physician Assistant Studies), and Assistant Chief David Byrd (Graduate- Masters in Nursing Education). Your dedication to personal and professional growth reflects the future of emergency services, and we are proud of each of you for your hard work and accomplishments.

As we head into Mother’s Day weekend, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you and best wishes to all the moms out there — especially the mothers serving in emergency services, healthcare, public safety, and volunteer organizations. Thank you for everything you do for your families, your communities, and those around you every single day.

From all of us at Watauga County Rescue Squad: Happy Mother’s Day weekend! Stay safe out there!

05/07/2026

Come join us on May 16th for Emergency Fest! Our team will be there, along with several of our vehicles- including our newest UTV- and much more! We will be participating in the vehicle extrication demonstration with Cove Creek Volunteer Fire Department again this year as well!

Hope to see you there!

BOONE — The annual Emergency Fest is taking place on May 16 at Watauga High School.

04/24/2026

Over the weekend, member Bryan Wood was able to attend the North Carolina Rope Rescue School Unit 1 course held at Mount Jefferson State Park. Last night, we were proud to welcome our partners from Ashe County Rescue Squad for a hands-on training session focused on high-angle rescue equipment and emerging rescue technologies.

Opportunities like this strengthen not only our technical skills, but also the relationships that are critical when we’re called to work together in challenging environments. We’re grateful for their time, professionalism, and willingness to come train alongside our team. Being able to learn from what each department is doing, whether alike or different, only makes us stronger!

As rescue continues to evolve, we remain committed to embracing new tools and techniques that enhance safety and efficiency—while never losing sight of the foundational skills and principles that built the rescue service we rely on today.

Thank you again to Ashe County Rescue Squad for your partnership and dedication!

📸Chip Norwood, 426

04/15/2026

🚑 Community Event Coverage – Watauga County Rescue Squad 🎉

From Friday night lights to local festivals and community gatherings, Watauga County Rescue Squad is proud to stand ready.

Providing medical coverage at community events is an important part of what we do. These events bring people together—and we’re there to ensure they stay safe while enjoying everything our county has to offer. Whether it’s a minor first aid need or a more serious medical emergency, our personnel are equipped, trained, and ready to respond.

Our presence allows for:
✔️ Rapid on-site medical care
✔️ Reduced strain on the 911 system
✔️ Peace of mind for event organizers and attendees

As a volunteer organization, this type of outreach reflects our commitment not just to emergency response—but to proactive community care.

We’re honored to serve Watauga County both on and off the emergency scene.

💙🧡 Watauga County Rescue Squad – Serving Those in Need, Whenever the Call Comes.

For more information, or to request us standby for a community gathering/event, visit https://www.wataugarescue.org/community-outreach.html

04/12/2026

This week, we proudly recognize National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and take a moment to thank the incredible team at Watauga County Communications.

Behind every call for help is a calm, steady voice guiding the response—gathering critical information, providing lifesaving instructions, and ensuring the right resources are sent exactly where they’re needed. These professionals are the true first first responders.

From routine calls to high-stress, life-threatening emergencies, our telecommunicators demonstrate unwavering dedication, professionalism, and compassion. Their work often goes unseen by the public, but it is absolutely essential to everything we do.

To our partners at Watauga County Communications—thank you for your commitment to our community, your support of first responders, and your role in saving lives every single day.

📞💛

04/10/2026

So thankful that our fire personnel were able to contain the blaze quick!

Excellent time to remind everyone that the burn ban is still in effect. Please do NOT burn, flick cigarettes/cigars, or other ignition sources out of your car windows. Natural ignition sources such as lightning and downed power lines may spark a fire, but we focus on the variables we can control.

Please be mindful that with our current drought, and weather conditions, something small can erupt into a massive wildfire within minutes.