Pennsylvania Paramedic Dies Following Shift
After returning home Sunday after working two twelve-hour shifts, the paramedic mowed the lawn, then later told his wife he wasn't feeling well.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Penn. -- Career paramedic Michael "Boz" Garvin, 39, of Hatfield, who worked with the Second Alarmers Association and Rescue Squad of Montgomery County for 16 years, died Sunday afternoon at home, according to Second Alarmers chief of operations Fred Trasatti Jr.
Trasatti said Garvin had worked a 12-hour shift with the Second Alarmers on Saturday before heading out to Whitpain, where he worked another 12 hours for someone who had suffered a shoulder injury.
After returning home Sunday, Garvin mowed the lawn, then later told his wife he wasn't feeling well. She called 911 and he was taken to Central Montgomery Hospital after 5 p.m.
Jamie Haddon, executive director of Second Alarmers, couldn't supply a cause of death because he said they were waiting for the coroner's report.
"He was very influential in setting up a lot of training programs for paramedics and EMTs," Trasatti said of Garvin. "He has a real go-getter kind of guy, really good instructor. He really kept the attention of people that he taught."
Garvin worked in Platoon B at the Second Alarmers North Hills Station and was qualified in EMS, rescue and firefighting.
He also has served as communications and data officer in previous years.
"(He) would do anything for anybody," Haddon said of Garvin.
Republished with permission of The Intelligencer.
EMSResponder.com Editor's Note:
According to the Second Alarmer's Rescue Squad, Paramedic Garvin served in various roles during his sixteen years there, including quality assurance coordinator, webmaster, communications officer, training officer, and bloodhound team leader. He also recently returned from 10 days of service with the Montgomery County EMS strike team providing assistance to victims of Hurricane Gustav in Louisiana.
Paramedic Garvin also received many honors for his service, including Employee of the Year in 2005 and numerous lifesaving citations. "His enthusiasm and willingness to help wherever he could will be missed," states the Second Alarmer's website.
A scholarship fund has been established to benefit his son. Donations can be sent to:
Michael Garvin Memorial Fund
c/o Second Alarmer's Rescue Squad
Abington Bank
275 Moreland Rd
Willow Grove, PA 19090
