Meet South Branch EMT Marv Freedman
A Retired Programmer and Catskills Hiking Guide Takes an Unexpected Path to Volunteer EMS
The earliest steps on Marv Freedman’s unusual path to becoming a South Branch Emergency Services EMT began with a desire to improve his own health.
The now-retired programmer and married father of two had always loved the outdoors, but became less active when family and career responsibilities grew. “I had gained a lot of weight and was way out of shape,” he remembers. In 2012, he started with the exercise that didn’t hurt: walking. By 2013 he was hiking, mostly in the Catskills with the Catskill 3500 Club, a hiking club and community service organization.
Marv, who is now 72 and retired from programming several years ago, became a club board member and a wilderness hike leader. To help protect the well-being of those he led into the woods, he took a wilderness first aid class. When the Catskill 3500 Club formed a search and rescue team, Marv joined it and took more first aid classes, but that didn’t feel like enough.
“I was talking to the leaders of the search and rescue team and asking their advice on how to learn more first aid so I would be more comfortable,” Marv remembered. “Both of them happen to be EMTs and both had the same suggestion: ‘Why don’t you take an EMT training course?’”
Marv and his wife, Suzanne, live in East Amwell. Seeking a place that provided high-quality EMT training, he found SBES. Marv was about 70 when he signed up with SBES. The COVID pandemic was still in full-swing. “I thought, ‘If I learn these skills, I’ll volunteer,’” he remembered.
Marv learned at his own pace. “I didn’t become a competent EMT as quickly as some of my younger peers from EMT class, but I was patient with myself and SBES was patient with me,” he said. “By riding on the ambulance, I’ve grown in competence and confidence.” Once he had earned his EMT license, Marv became an EMT candidate.
From the start, he was a third set of hands to help lift patients or grab the right equipment and a caring conversationalist who helped patients feel more at ease. As his skills and confidence level grew, he was given more responsibility for care – but always as the 3rd member of a 2 person team.
Marv continues to plan and guide hikes in the Catskills and trains other hike leaders in wilderness first aid. He can now also help guide other SBES EMT candidates as they learn the ropes in the field. On April 11, 2023, Marv was promoted to SBES Team Member.
He recommends volunteering with SBES to all who have interest. “It’s interesting and it feels good to be useful and to help people,” he said. “There’s nobody who isn’t contributing, and it feels good to be working with people who give a darn, to be part of a strong team with people who care.”
Interested in becoming an SBES volunteer? Learn more or sign up at www.sbes365.org
The now-retired programmer and married father of two had always loved the outdoors, but became less active when family and career responsibilities grew. “I had gained a lot of weight and was way out of shape,” he remembers. In 2012, he started with the exercise that didn’t hurt: walking. By 2013 he was hiking, mostly in the Catskills with the Catskill 3500 Club, a hiking club and community service organization.
Marv, who is now 72 and retired from programming several years ago, became a club board member and a wilderness hike leader. To help protect the well-being of those he led into the woods, he took a wilderness first aid class. When the Catskill 3500 Club formed a search and rescue team, Marv joined it and took more first aid classes, but that didn’t feel like enough.
“I was talking to the leaders of the search and rescue team and asking their advice on how to learn more first aid so I would be more comfortable,” Marv remembered. “Both of them happen to be EMTs and both had the same suggestion: ‘Why don’t you take an EMT training course?’”
Marv and his wife, Suzanne, live in East Amwell. Seeking a place that provided high-quality EMT training, he found SBES. Marv was about 70 when he signed up with SBES. The COVID pandemic was still in full-swing. “I thought, ‘If I learn these skills, I’ll volunteer,’” he remembered.
Marv learned at his own pace. “I didn’t become a competent EMT as quickly as some of my younger peers from EMT class, but I was patient with myself and SBES was patient with me,” he said. “By riding on the ambulance, I’ve grown in competence and confidence.” Once he had earned his EMT license, Marv became an EMT candidate.
From the start, he was a third set of hands to help lift patients or grab the right equipment and a caring conversationalist who helped patients feel more at ease. As his skills and confidence level grew, he was given more responsibility for care – but always as the 3rd member of a 2 person team.
Marv continues to plan and guide hikes in the Catskills and trains other hike leaders in wilderness first aid. He can now also help guide other SBES EMT candidates as they learn the ropes in the field. On April 11, 2023, Marv was promoted to SBES Team Member.
He recommends volunteering with SBES to all who have interest. “It’s interesting and it feels good to be useful and to help people,” he said. “There’s nobody who isn’t contributing, and it feels good to be working with people who give a darn, to be part of a strong team with people who care.”
Interested in becoming an SBES volunteer? Learn more or sign up at www.sbes365.org