Two N.J. EMTs Succumb to COVID-19

NJ Advance Media Group, Edison, N.J.

John Careccia had a simple reason for wanting to pursue a career in emergency medical care.

In 1993, the Woodbridge native watched two emergency responders save his son’s life. Careccia became a volunteer with the Woodbridge Township Ambulance and Rescue Squad because he wanted to “pay it forward," he later told a CPR training website.

Careccia, who became the chief of the volunteer emergency medical services squad in 2014, died April 17 due to complications from the coronavirus. He was 74.

Anthony Mercado, the deputy chief of the 100-person rescue squad, said Careccia’s passing will go down as a line-of-duty death “because he got sick" while responding to an emergency.

“John was the chief of the organization," Mercado said. “You could say he was on the front line of this crisis. As it’s gotten worse and worse, he faced it day in and day out up until he got sick. There were a lot of calls that John was on up until the end."

Careccia is one of at least 14 EMS responders who have died as a result of the coronavirus since March 31, according to the NJ EMS Task Force and multiple first-aid squads.

This week, the South Orange Rescue Squad announced Michael Muench died from complications of COVID-19 on April 15. A former captain and a “lifetime member" of the all-volunteer organization, Muench was 73.

“He served as a volunteer EMT from 1984 through 1995, and then continued his service to the community even after he stopped answering 911 calls," the South Orange squad said in a statement on its Facebook page. “He was a mentor to many and one of the first instructors of the cadet program for high school students. Over his more than a decade of service to the community, Mike saved countless lives."

Mercado echoed that statement when discussing what Careccia meant to the Woodbridge squad. In his October 2015 interview, Careccia said he personally had saved nine lives during his time on the volunteer EMS squad.

The South Orange squad hung memorial bunting on its station and is conducting a fundraiser in Muench’s memory.

The Woodbridge rescue squad will stage a memorial ride on Tuesday at 1 p.m.for Careccia. Mercado said he’s asking other EMS squads to arrive at its headquarters at 12:15 p.m. for the 1 p.m. procession to Careccia’s home in the Fords section of the Middlesex County township.

“John was 74 and was still active," Mercado said. “He probably had a higher percentage (of responses) than half of our members. It’s just what he loved to do."