Off-Duty Paramedic Saved Nampa Fire Chief’s Life

Nampa Fire Chief Karl Malott received critical injuries last week when his motorcylce ran into the back of a red sedan on I-84 near Sand Hollow.

Sometimes it's weird how God works.  Within seconds, a longtime aquaintance, an off-duty paramedic was driving by.  His name is Leo Gilbride.  Gilbride had been working in the field for thirty years.  He had left a work trip early that day and saw a pack of motorcycles riding.  He stayed back a bit and was watching to see if he knew any of them.  That's when it happened.

Gilbride grabbed his emergency bag and took off.  Within a couple of minutes he knew it was Nampa Fire Chief Karl Malott.  Malott didn't recognize him at first even though they had worked together for decades because Malott's injuries left him unrecognizable.

There was no pulse and Malott was unconscious.  Gilbride was joined by an off duty nurse, an EMT, and a Boise Fire Chief.  It took all of them to get Karl Malott a chance.  Initially none of these people thought Malott would make it.  The injuries were just too severe.  Because of Gilbride's medical background he was able to tell first responders exactly what to prepare for, saving time, which ultimately saved Malott's life.