By Nancy Chapman
Sarasota Herald-Tribune (Florida)
Copyright 2007 Sarasota Herald-Tribune Co.
All Rights Reserved
NORTH PORT, Fla. — The North Port Fire Department has a new member, and he’s only 4 years old.
Well, OK. Gabriel Martell is only an “honorary paramedic.” But the youngster has already shown cool-headedness in an emergency situation, so who knows what the future might hold?
Gabriel was enjoying a dip in his family’s pool on Feb. 7, when his grandmother, Bertha Gonzalez, became dizzy and fell onto the concrete. She was injured and unable to get up.
The pair were home alone at the time, but Gabriel came to the rescue: without any encouragement, he picked up the phone and dialed 911.
Then he called his mother. When paramedics Dave Ingalls and Kevin Barnes arrived, Gabriel cleared their path of danger, ushering two pets into the house.
“Those were big dogs,” Barnes said. “It went a lot smoother than it could have gone, because of him being there.”
Family members suspect that Gabriel learned how to summon help by watching the procedure as his great-grandmother became ill last year. (She died in December.)
Last week, the city awarded his behavior with a little early morning presentation at Station No. 81, near City Hall.
“For his quick thinking and bravery, we want to make Gabriel Martell an honorary paramedic,” City of North Port Fire Marshal Michael Frantz said. Then he bent down to eye level for the 4-year-old and handed him a framed certificate.
“You did a great thing by calling 911,” Frantz said.
Gabriel was given a tour of the firehouse, and a chance to ride around the block in a fire truck. He was also given a calendar, a gift bag with things to color with, a plastic fire helmet and “angel wings.”
“That’s for being a perfect EMT angel,” said Bill Taaffe, North Port Fire Rescue District chief.
Then the little boy was hoisted into the passenger seat of one of the station’s fire trucks.
His ride didn’t last long — the vehicle barely moved into the driveway before Gabriel asked to get out. But he was promised the chance to ride again, anytime he wants.
The paramedics continue to be impressed.
“There are adults who can’t figure out how to call 911,” Barnes said.