10/09/2026
John M. is a Montgomery County EMS Provider Lieutenant and volunteers as a charge aide and driver at the Glen Echo Fire Department. In addition to his operational duties, John supports the department with several administrative needs as a Lieutenant: scheduling shifts, managing leave and modified member hours, coordinating the live-in program, overseeing SAMS and LOSAP points, and handling technology needs, among other responsibilities. Quite literally, the department could not operate without John! We are incredibly privileged to have a dedicated, passionate member like John, and we are thrilled to highlight him as our Member of the Month for September.
When asked about their favorite call type to respond to, John said: My favorite call is the “lift assist,” which is where someone is uninjured but has fallen and needs help getting off the ground. On most other EMS calls, we can help people by evaluating for and treating immediate life threats, making them as comfortable as possible, and transporting them to an emergency department for further evaluation or care, but we usually can’t resolve the underlying problem. With a lift assist, we can show up with the right tools—often nothing more than compassion, professionalism, and a few pairs of steady hands—and resolve the problem by helping the person off the floor and making sure they’re uninjured. People sometimes feel embarrassed or guilty for calling us when they only need help getting off the ground, but they absolutely shouldn’t—our public health and safety mission goes far beyond responding to immediate life threats, and it is an important part of the service we provide to the community.
Read the full spotlight on our website: gefd.org/gefd-volunteer-spotlight/
