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'Diamond Dave' now runnin' with the medics
By SULAIMAN BEG
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: November 22, 2004)
Eighties rock legend David Lee Roth can add a defibrillator to his list of props.
The energetic former frontman for Van Halen took the state's Emergency Medical Service certification test on Thursday and is on his way to volunteering, thanks in part to the Rockland County Fire Training Center in Ramapo.
Since July, the singer of such hits as "Jump!" and "Runnin' With the Devil" had been training at the center.
Earlier this year, Roth's manager contacted Brooklyn-based Emergency Care Programs Inc., which assigned Linda Reissman of Stony Point to serve as his EMS consultant and tutor.
Reissman arranged for Roth to receive training — including oxygen administration and immobilization and excavation training and practical skills, such as oxygen and airway management — at the center in Ramapo, said Kim Lippes, coordinator of Rockland County EMS.
The certification test came after Roth completed the 160-hour program. Test results take four to six weeks to come in, Lippes said.
Lippes described the freewheeling rock star, who commuted from his Manhattan apartment to train twice a week, as a "really great guy."
She said when she first heard Roth was looking to get his training at the county's Fire Training Center in Ramapo, she was a little reluctant to get involved, but she changed her mind after witnessing his dedication.
"We were expecting such a big personality," Lippes said. "But he's very down-to-earth. He really, truly wants to help people. He's a pleasure. He's a gentleman."
Lippes said Roth befriended many of the people he met during the months he trained. She said he even called her home after he used a defibrillator to save the life of a Bronx woman who had a heart attack last month.
Roth worked with members of local fire departments and Desiree Leone, the assistant EMS coordinator, and Ellie Salmon, director of the South Orangetown Ambulance Corps training division.
While he was training, Roth preferred to remain low-key and shunned most publicity, including interviews with NBC's "Dateline," until after his certification test, Lippes said.
He even cut his legendary blond mane.
But Roth hasn't quit performing on the larger stage just yet. The singer played a few gigs while he was training.
Reissman said Roth was not seeking publicity, but just wanted to contribute to the community.
"He was a very good student," she said. "And he's doing it for the right reasons."
Roth also lent his voice to record an advertisement for Rockland's radio station, 1640 AM. One thing Roth said "struck a chord" with her: how underpaid emergency service workers were.
"He said all these lifesavers have two or three jobs, and something is very wrong when they have to kill themselves to make ends meet," Reissman said. "You obviously do it because you love it."
"Diamond Dave" Roth, who turned 50 last month, told the Daily News earlier this year that his interest in becoming a paramedic was not as far-fetched as it might have seemed.
His father was a surgeon, and Roth himself worked as a surgical orderly in South Central Los Angeles in the early 1970s. Once certified, Roth said, he hopes to volunteer one weekend a month.
The singer, who spent a decade with Van Halen before embarking on a solo career — other than a two-song collaboration with the band for a greatest-hits album — has been riding with crews in the Bronx, Manhattan and Brooklyn several nights a week.
Lippes said Roth didn't want to do any rides in Rockland because he didn't want the attention, figuring he would go unnoticed in the city.
Roth was unavailable for comment.
"He wanted action and to be incognito," she said. "He'd stick out a lot more here."
Daves been training here since July?this is 10 minutes from my job.I had no idea.Some of the guys i work with do fire training over at the center for fire brigade and were like yaeh weve seen him a few times in class,real down to earth.Apparently he is very serious about this stuff.
By SULAIMAN BEG
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: November 22, 2004)
Eighties rock legend David Lee Roth can add a defibrillator to his list of props.
The energetic former frontman for Van Halen took the state's Emergency Medical Service certification test on Thursday and is on his way to volunteering, thanks in part to the Rockland County Fire Training Center in Ramapo.
Since July, the singer of such hits as "Jump!" and "Runnin' With the Devil" had been training at the center.
Earlier this year, Roth's manager contacted Brooklyn-based Emergency Care Programs Inc., which assigned Linda Reissman of Stony Point to serve as his EMS consultant and tutor.
Reissman arranged for Roth to receive training — including oxygen administration and immobilization and excavation training and practical skills, such as oxygen and airway management — at the center in Ramapo, said Kim Lippes, coordinator of Rockland County EMS.
The certification test came after Roth completed the 160-hour program. Test results take four to six weeks to come in, Lippes said.
Lippes described the freewheeling rock star, who commuted from his Manhattan apartment to train twice a week, as a "really great guy."
She said when she first heard Roth was looking to get his training at the county's Fire Training Center in Ramapo, she was a little reluctant to get involved, but she changed her mind after witnessing his dedication.
"We were expecting such a big personality," Lippes said. "But he's very down-to-earth. He really, truly wants to help people. He's a pleasure. He's a gentleman."
Lippes said Roth befriended many of the people he met during the months he trained. She said he even called her home after he used a defibrillator to save the life of a Bronx woman who had a heart attack last month.
Roth worked with members of local fire departments and Desiree Leone, the assistant EMS coordinator, and Ellie Salmon, director of the South Orangetown Ambulance Corps training division.
While he was training, Roth preferred to remain low-key and shunned most publicity, including interviews with NBC's "Dateline," until after his certification test, Lippes said.
He even cut his legendary blond mane.
But Roth hasn't quit performing on the larger stage just yet. The singer played a few gigs while he was training.
Reissman said Roth was not seeking publicity, but just wanted to contribute to the community.
"He was a very good student," she said. "And he's doing it for the right reasons."
Roth also lent his voice to record an advertisement for Rockland's radio station, 1640 AM. One thing Roth said "struck a chord" with her: how underpaid emergency service workers were.
"He said all these lifesavers have two or three jobs, and something is very wrong when they have to kill themselves to make ends meet," Reissman said. "You obviously do it because you love it."
"Diamond Dave" Roth, who turned 50 last month, told the Daily News earlier this year that his interest in becoming a paramedic was not as far-fetched as it might have seemed.
His father was a surgeon, and Roth himself worked as a surgical orderly in South Central Los Angeles in the early 1970s. Once certified, Roth said, he hopes to volunteer one weekend a month.
The singer, who spent a decade with Van Halen before embarking on a solo career — other than a two-song collaboration with the band for a greatest-hits album — has been riding with crews in the Bronx, Manhattan and Brooklyn several nights a week.
Lippes said Roth didn't want to do any rides in Rockland because he didn't want the attention, figuring he would go unnoticed in the city.
Roth was unavailable for comment.
"He wanted action and to be incognito," she said. "He'd stick out a lot more here."
Daves been training here since July?this is 10 minutes from my job.I had no idea.Some of the guys i work with do fire training over at the center for fire brigade and were like yaeh weve seen him a few times in class,real down to earth.Apparently he is very serious about this stuff.
It's snowballing! My friends and relatives all over the country are sending me newspaper clippings about Davy Baby in the mail!
Please, noone's seen a pic of this chick. She might be a real dog......
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