Name: Retiree finds a new calling as volunteer EMT
Uploaded: 2025-11-19T02:10:07.595Z
Duration: 1 min 55 s
Description: Against all odds, a retiree passed a test to become an EMT and found his calling in the process. Scott MacFarlane has the story.

Against all odds, a retiree passed a test to become an EMT and found his calling in the process. Scott MacFarlane has the story.

Montgomery County

Ed Levien, a retiree from Montgomery County, Maryland, transitioned from a career in advertising to volunteering as an emergency medical technician (EMT) at age 64. Despite facing emphysema and chronic pain, Levien passed the required physical and has since contributed over 13,000 hours of service.

Now 76, Levien no longer responds to emergency calls but instead focuses on training the next generation of EMTs. His story highlights the possibility of finding new purpose after retirement and the impact of volunteerism in community health services.

Retiree finds a new calling as volunteer EMT

9-1-1 operators receive millions of calls a year, but the man you're about to meet heard 9-1-1 calling him and his first response was yes. Here's Scott McFarland. 25 years ago, Ed Levien retired from a high stress career. I don't see myself as being old. I'm older, but I just don't think I'm old. In 2013, despite battling emphysema and chronic pain, he saw the sign about what to do next. This sign, calling for volunteer EMTs at the rescue squad in Bethesda, Maryland. I called up. I said, I'm probably too old. And they said, if you could pass the physical, we'd love to have you. Who knew? Against all odds, he passed and at age 64, likely became one of America's oldest, newest emergency medical technicians. Your career was not in medicine. Oh, no, I was in advertising. Levien racked up more than 13,000 hours of work, making countless slides down the fireman's pole. Captain Gregory Mitchell. He's a smart guy. He's a caring guy. It really doesn't take a lot much more than that, and I don't think anyone doubted that he'd be able to do it. How long should a rapid trauma assessment take? Now 76, Levien is no longer going out on calls. Instead, he's training the next generation. You can retire from your career. That's okay. Retire from life. Then it's over. The job was hard. Retiring can be even harder. Scott McFarlane, CBS News, Bethesda, Maryland. Clearly the right guy for the job. Yeah, I would feel safe in his hands. Absolutely. Feel safer just watching him in good hands. You bet. And that is the CBS Evening News. I'm Maurice Dubois. I'm John Dickerson. Good night. See you tomorrow. .

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