Marion County Rescue Squad

08/27/2026

What is fentanyl, and why is it so dangerous?

Fentanyl is a powerful opioid that can be prescribed medically, but illegally manufactured fentanyl has also become a major part of the street drug supply. One of the biggest dangers is that people may not even know it is there.

It can be mixed into other drugs or pressed into pills made to look like real prescription medication. Someone may think they know what they are taking, when in reality they have no idea what is actually in it.

That is what makes fentanyl so frightening. Sometimes there is no warning, no second chance to rethink the decision, and no way to tell just by looking.

This is not about judging someone’s choices. It is about understanding the risk, talking about it openly, and making sure people know how quickly an overdose can happen.

Knowledge can save lives. Narcan can save lives. Honest conversations can save lives. And behind every overdose is still a person who matters to someone.

Marion County, keep planning your purple for August 31!
We’re challenging some of our community organizations to join us and GO PURPLE on August 31!

Fairmont Firefighters - IAFF Local 318
Fairmont Police Department, W.Va.
Marion County Homeland Security & Emergency Management
Valley Volunteer Fire Department

Who else is joining us? Tag them below!

08/26/2026

Would you recognize the signs of an overdose?

An opioid overdose can happen fast, and sometimes the person nearby is the only reason help arrives in time.

Someone experiencing an overdose may be very hard to wake up, have slow or stopped breathing, make choking or gurgling sounds, have pinpoint pupils, or have pale, blue or gray lips or fingertips.

Call 911, give Narcan if you have it, and stay with the person until help arrives. If you’re not sure whether opioids are involved, don’t let that stop you. Narcan will not harm someone if opioids are not the cause.

And please don’t be afraid to use it because you’re worried you won’t know how! Narcan comes with simple, easy-to-follow instructions right on the box. You don’t have to be a medical professional or have special training to step in and help.
Sometimes saving a life starts with recognizing that something is wrong, having Narcan nearby, and being willing to act.

That person is still someone’s child, parent, sibling, friend or loved one. In that moment, every second matters, and you may be the reason they get another chance.

Marion County, keep planning your purple for August 31. We can’t wait to see it!

08/25/2026

We’re so excited to officially announce EMT Raealena Nicholson and EMT Summer Cooke as our new Mental Health & Resilience Coordinators at MCRS. 💙

What makes these two such a great fit for this role is how deeply they care about people. Not just EMS as a profession, but the people beside them every day. Our crews, our staff, and the overall wellbeing of the MCRS family.

EMS can ask a lot of us. We see difficult things, carry heavy moments, and sometimes forget that the people taking care of everyone else need support too.

Raealena and Summer have stepped up to help strengthen that support within MCRS by encouraging wellness, resilience, connection, and making sure our staff know they have people in their corner.

We’re incredibly thankful for their willingness to take on this role and for the compassion they already bring to our team every day.

Please help us congratulate Raealena and Summer. We’re proud to have them helping us take care of the people who take care of our community. 💙🚑

08/25/2026

What is Narcan, and why should you know about it?

Narcan, also known as naloxone, is a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose and help restore breathing until emergency help arrives. It’s something most people never think about until suddenly they need it.

And the person who needs it may not be who you picture. It could be someone’s child, parent, friend, coworker or neighbor. Someone doing well in recovery. Someone who made one dangerous decision. Someone who simply didn’t know what was in what they took.

In that moment, their story doesn’t matter. They are still someone’s person, and their life is worth saving.

Sometimes another chance comes down to someone nearby having Narcan and knowing what to do. Call 911, give Narcan if available and stay with the person until help arrives.

Need FREE Narcan? There is a Narcan Resource Box at 400 Virginia Avenue, at the end of our lot. No questions. No forms. Just free Narcan for anyone who needs it.

Take one. Keep it nearby. You never know when you may be the person who can save someone’s someone.

Marion County, keep planning your purple for August 31.

08/24/2026

August is Overdose Awareness Month.

When we talk about overdose, it is easy to see a number or hear statistics and keep scrolling.

But behind every number was a person.

Someone with a name. Someone with a story. Someone who laughed, loved, had favorite songs, inside jokes, birthdays and people who loved them.

And when that person is gone, the loss doesn’t end there.

It lives in the mom who would give anything for one more hug. The child growing up without a parent. The brother or sister who still reaches for the phone. The friend who wishes they had one more conversation. The empty chair at holidays. The birthday that still comes every year.

It touches the people working toward recovery and the families standing beside them. It touches the first responders who answer the calls and sometimes carry those memories home with them too.

Overdose leaves a much bigger footprint than most people ever see.

That is why on August 31, we’re asking Marion County to GO PURPLE.

Wear purple. Put a ribbon on your door. Light your porch or business purple. Paint your nails. Decorate a window. It doesn’t matter how big or small. Then take a picture and share it on social media.

Let’s fill Marion County with purple for the people we wish were still here, for the families who will always carry them in their hearts, for those who are struggling today and for every person who has fought their way into recovery.

And maybe someone scrolling through their feed that day will see all that purple and realize something important.

People care. Their life matters. And there is still hope.

So, start planning your purple, Marion County!!

On August 31, let’s show just how much heart this community has.

Remember. Support. Prevent.

08/21/2026

We truly cannot say enough good things about Marion Upfitter & Detail LLC! 🚑📻❤️

This was a huge project involving our mobile and portable radios, programming, firmware, radio IDs, chargers, upgrades, and more. With the amount of equipment we have at MCRS, this took a lot of time, organization, and attention to detail.

They were incredibly easy to work with, knowledgeable, fast, and made a very large project feel simple on our end. They understood how important reliable communications are in EMS and made sure everything was organized, updated, and working the way it should.

We would absolutely recommend Marion Upfitter & Detail LLC to any public safety agency needing communications work.

Thank you for taking such great care of MCRS and for tackling such a big job for us! 🚑

🚑 Major Communications Upgrade for MCRS 📻

Marion Upfitter & Detail LLC recently completed a major radio communications project for the Marion County Rescue Squad.

This project included:

✅ Reprogramming all mobile and portable radios
✅ Updating radio firmware and codeplugs
✅ Upgrading several radios
✅ Updating the department’s charging equipment
✅ Adding a secure PVT channel for authorized private communications
✅ Correcting and organizing radio IDs so every ID now matches its assigned radio

This was a large project that required a significant amount of time, coordination, and attention to detail. MCRS now has a more organized and consistent communications system across its fleet and portable radios.

A special thank-you to Chief 20 and Assistant Chief 20 for recognizing the importance of this project and for their trust and commitment throughout the entire process.

We appreciate the opportunity to continue supporting the Marion County Rescue Squad’s communications needs!

08/20/2026

Paramedic Nathan Weese misunderstood “sure, bring your kids to the station” and heard “bring your own free labor.” 😂🚑🧽

Nathan brought his kids by the station and before long, they were put straight to work giving one of the trucks a good scrub.

No complaints, no negotiations, and payment was snacks!

We’re not saying we’re recruiting early… but they definitely passed the first test: if you’re standing around the station, somebody will find you something to do.

Thanks for the help, kiddos! The ambulance looked a whole lot better when you were done. 🚑

08/19/2026

08/14/2026

Okayyyy Unit 31… we see you! 😍🚑

We are SO excited about this one. Our newest ambulance is here and she is SHARP!

It looks new. It feels new. It even has that “don’t touch anything yet” kind of new feeling. 😂

From the patient compartment to the exterior, lighting, cabinetry and all the finishing touches, this is one seriously nice truck and we cannot wait to get it stocked and out serving Marion County.

A huge thank you to Osage Ambulances!

08/13/2026

Frances Martin spoiled our staff again today!

Sincerely, from all our staff at MCRS, thank you so much for always thinking of us!!! ❤️🚑