Duty Death: Matthew Brian Smith - [Cartersville]
End of Service: 21/03/2023
By Leila Merrill
FireRescue1
BARTOW COUNTY, Ga. — Bartow County Firefighter Matthew Smith, 41, died around 5 p.m. Tuesday, the department announced on Facebook.
The firefighter suffered “from complications of an apparent medical incident that he suffered during a training exercise last Thursday,” according to Bartow County Fire & Emergency Services.
The U.S. Fire Administration described the March 16 incident:
“Instructors for the exercise with Firefighter Smith immediately recognized that he was experiencing an acute medical emergency and quickly removed him from the search maze to begin resuscitative measures. Personnel of BCFES immediately began CPR and initiated advanced cardiac life support protocols.
“BCFES had an on-site ALS ambulance on standby for training and the decision was made for that unit to transport Firefighter Smith to Piedmont Cartersville Medical Center. Emergency response personnel, as well as emergency department staff, worked tirelessly to resuscitate Firefighter Smith. He did regain cardiac function and was placed on life support for six days. Regretfully, Firefighter Smith passed away on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, from complications related to his medical emergency. The cause of his death has yet to be determined.”
Smith was in the fire service for two years.