Community Corner
Narberth Ambulance Highlights Kim McGrath for First Responder's Day
Narberth Ambulance Celebrates First Female Battalion Chief for First Responder's Day, Oct. 28
Paramedic Kim McGrath is currently Narberth Ambulance’s only female Battalion Chief and the first female officer to have a rank this high. Narberth Ambulance is delighted to highlight Kim McGrath for National First Responder’s Day, October 28.
Rising through the ranks, McGrath started as a part-time paramedic at Narberth Ambulance in December of 2001 and transitioned to full time approximately ten years ago.
“I kind of just fell into it,” she said. “My friend suggested we take the EMT exam and it was that simple. We went to EMT school and eventually became paramedics.”
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In November of this year McGrath will celebrate 23 years as a paramedic. Her journey started at LifeTech Ambulance in Philadelphia, but after hearing about the wonderful opportunities Narberth Ambulance offered from different colleagues, she transitioned to the suburbs as a part-time EMT for Narberth Ambulance.
“The staff at Narberth Ambulance is like a second family,” said McGrath. “We’ve got each other’s backs and everyone’s willing to lend a hand. We make it a priority to learn from one another and stay up to date with cutting-edge technology and medical practices.”
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Not only is McGrath a battalion chief, but she is also the nighttime supervisor for her platoon. From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. she manages ten to twelve staff members, issues with patients, patient’s health problems on dozens of calls per day.
“Calls are unpredictable but there’s endless opportunities for training and we deal with a wide range of emergencies. Narberth Ambulance is a great place for career and volunteer staff to learn,” said McGrath. “It’s an honor to be the first female battalion chief with a rank this high at Narberth Ambulance and I’m excited to continue to grow with the organization.”
Since 1944, Narberth Ambulance, a non-profit organization 501(c)(3), has earned a stellar reputation for providing 24/7 pre-hospital emergency medical services and medical transportation to more than 150,000 residents, businesses and visitors. Narberth Ambulance serves the municipalities of Lower Merion, Narberth, Haverford, Conshohocken, and West Conshohocken, and responded to over 11,000 calls last year.
