Honorees

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Year Honored
1993
Honoree
Samuel D Garcia
Agency
Prince George Volunteer Rescue Squad
Agency City
Prince George
Agency State
VA
Last Call
12/26/92
Cause of Death
On-duty Cardiac
Biography
Samuel D. Garcia, known by his friends and family as Sammy, joined the Prince George Volunteer Emergency Crew as a Junior crew member in July, 1977. He spent two years supporting the Senior crew and expanding his knowledge and skills in the emergency medical field before joining the Senior crew.<br /> <br /> Sammy was certified in advanced first aid, vehicle extrication, cardiac technician, basic trauma life support, advanced cardiac life support, and pediatric advanced life support.<br /> <br /> Officially, Sammy held the offices of truck lieutenant, training lieutenant, supplies lieutenant and served two consecutive terms as captain. Seeing the need for a quick response vehicle as the need for advanced life support increased, Sammy designed the crew's crash truck and worked many hours to obtain the funding for it and two four-wheel drive vehicles.<br /> <br /> In 1989, Sammy was awarded life membership with the Prince George Emergency Crew, an honor given to members who have served for ten years and consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty. Additionally, in 1990, he organized his crew's Heavy Tactical Rescue Team. The team competed in vehicle extrication at the district and state levels and in1992 placed first in their class at the state convention. The team still competes in his honor and placed fourth in international competition in 1993.<br /> <br /> In addition to his volunteer duties with the crew,Sammy was a lineman with Virginia Power. He and wife, Kimberly, had one daughter, Sidney.<br /> <br /> On the evening of December 26, 1992, the crew responded to a call involving a child crushed between two vehicles. Sammy arrived at the scene and took charge of the patient because of his knowledge and skills as a cardiac technician certified in pediatric advanced life support. He treated the child and was in constant contact with the hospital until an evacuation helicopter arrived on the scene.After loading the child for transport, Sammy headed to the hospital to sign for the medicines used. Unfortunately, he never arrived. The Hopewell Emergency Crew found Sammy in full cardiac arrest and attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.<br /> <br /> Rescue workers on the scene of Sammy's lastcall said he had maxed himself to the limit trying to save the child.<br /> <br /> Honored 1993