On this episode, we’re talking EMS history. I’m embarrassed to admit I was unaware of this background until I heard it on another, non-fire-related podcast. It’s the story of the first civilian EMS program in the U.S.

Nope, not New York. That was 1968. Not Miami. That was 1969. Not even L.A., home of the “Emergency!” TV show. The law that allowed them to practice was passed in 1970.

No, the first U.S. paramedics were from the Freedom House Ambulance program in Pittsburgh. In 1967.

And they faced opposition. The number one reason? Because the medics were nearly all Black men.

Never heard of these guys? You should know about them.

It’s a fascinating story and here to talk about it today is Ben Thompson. Ben is a captain in the Birmingham, Alabama Fire and Rescue Service. In 2016, he was awarded Emergency Medical Service Provider of the Year and he won the 2018 Joe E. Acker Award for Innovation in Emergency Medical Services. Both of those are in Jefferson County, Alabama. Naturally, he’s also a licensed paramedic.