The Freedom House Ambulance Service

2min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

The Freedom House Ambulance Service was formed in 1967. It's widely acknowledged as the first paramedic program in the country. They could deliver babies, treat a seizure or a gunshot and get you to a hospital. The people who showed up at your door were going to be two volunteer firefighters, two police officers, or maybe two undertakers and a hearse.

As recently as 1965, if you had a medical emergency, the people who showed up at your door would be volunteer firefighters, police officers, or undertakers with a hearse. Today, the story of how a group of Black men from Pittsburgh changed that.

Kevin Hazzard’s book is American Sirens: The Incredible Story of the Black Men Who Became America's First Paramedics.

Say hello on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts: iTunes.com/CriminalShow.

Listen back through our archives at youtube.com/criminalpodcast.

We also make This is Love and Phoebe Reads a Mystery.

Artwork by Julienne Alexander.

Episode transcripts are posted on our website.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices