The State Advisory Board is established under the Code of Virginia to serve as a formal liaison between the State Office of EMS and the public to ensure that the Office of EMS understands, responds to, and communicates with the general public. The Advisory Board also provides advice and counsel to the Office of EMS, State Board of Health, and the Governor, regarding methods and procedures for planning, developing, and maintaining a statewide EMS system.
Chief Edwards graduated with the first-ever Virginia Paramedic Class in 1973 and has remained an active paramedic in Virginia Beach EMS ever since. His long and distinguished career has afforded Chief Edwards the opportunity to sit on various local and state committees. He was instrumental in establishing the first all-volunteer Emergency Coronary Care Program in the state in Virginia Beach in 1972 and helped Virginia Beach General Hospital become the first Virginia hospital to receive telemetry from ambulances.
Bruce Edwards, Chief of the Virginia Beach Department of Emergency Medical Services, is in charge of the largest volunteer-based EMS system in the country. Recently, with the help of his leadership, Virginia Beach refined its delivery of emergency medical care to the residents and guests of the city. The Virginia Beach Police Department was trained CPR/Defibrillation and now more than 160 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are in police cars, eligible Fire Department personnel are integrated into the advanced life support response, and 32 career medics are augmenting the services provided by the EMS Volunteers.
Earlier this year, the Tidewater Regional Emergency Medical Services Council (TEMS), renamed one of its annual awards "The Bruce W. Edwards Outstanding EMS Administrator's Award," in honor of his work and service in public safety.
