They’re considering Mark Smith’s death an “in the line of duty” death.
BRIGHTON, Colo. — A veteran medic with Platte Valley Ambulance died Sunday due to complications from COVID-19.
Mark Smith served as a first responder and cared for others for 30 years.
He served with REED Ambulance, Rural Metro Ambulance and as a dispatcher for Adams County Communications prior to joining Platte Valley Ambulance.
“Whether Mark was teaching, working on the ambulance, leading his team as the shift supervisor or any other countless tasks he would take on, he was always an inspiration and did what he could to put a smile on your face,” Platte Valley Ambulance said in a Facebook post. “Mark was known for his sarcastic humor and personality, always teasing and making the workplace fun. To all who knew him, he was kind, compassionate, caring and an all-around hero.”
Smith’s death is being considered a death in the line of duty.
“Please keep the Smith family in your thoughts and prayers as the times ahead will no doubt be difficult to navigate,” Platte Valley Ambulance said. “Hold tightly to one another and as Mark would say, ‘BE MORE GOODER!!!'”
Mindy Forbes, a paramedic lieutenant with Platte Valley Ambulance, worked alongside Smith for 13 years.
“There’s risk of injury, illness and death with everything that we do,” Forbes said. “Mark was the first one to raise his hand and say, ‘I’m in this fight. I’m here with you guys as a leader and as a colleague.'”
Forbes will remember Smith as a friend and mentor who could always lighten the mood.
“He had a way of just walking into a room and just making everybody laugh,” Forbes said. “It didn’t matter who you were. You were victim to his sarcasm!”
This week, humor has been harder to find, but Forbes hopes to get through her next shift thinking about the good ones that came before.
“It’s going to be tough,” she said. “I think it’s going to be tough for a long time.”
Smith’s employer, SCL Health, could not say whether he was vaccinated against COVID-19, citing privacy rules. A spokesperson for SCL Health provided the following statement when asked about Smith’s vaccination status:
“Our Mission calls us to prioritize the health and safety of our patients and associates at all times. In order to ensure our continued ability to heal and care, we adhere to all federal and state policies related to personal protective equipment and vaccination. SCL Health adheres to strict patient privacy rules, and as such does not release the vaccination status of individual patients, staff members, or contractors.”
Platte Valley Ambulance emergency medical services (EMS) team serves Brighton, Great Rock, Henderson, Lochbuie, Todd Creek, Wattenburg and portions of Adams and Weld counties, according to the organization’s website.
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