Tires screeched. A siren wailed. It was spring 1975. And an ambulance was racing through the streets of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

    At the wheel was a man named John Moon. He was part of the Freedom House Ambulance Service. It was the first modern paramedic crew in the country. 

    Moon stopped on a bridge. A man was lying still on the walkway. Between him and Moon was a 12-foot-tall fence. On top was razor-sharp wire. Moon hesitated for a moment. Then he began to climb. What choice did he have? 

    For this patient, Moon was the only thing standing between life and death.

    Tires screeched. A siren wailed. It was spring 1975. An ambulance raced through the streets of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

    At the wheel was a man named John Moon. He was part of the Freedom House Ambulance Service. It was the first modern paramedic crew in the country.

    Moon stopped on a bridge. A man was lying on the walkway. Between him and Moon was a 12-foot-tall fence. On top was razor-sharp wire. Moon hesitated. Then he began to climb. What else could he do?

    The patient needed him.

    Tires screeched. A siren wailed. It was spring 1975, and an ambulance was racing through the streets of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

    At the wheel was a man named John Moon. He was part of the Freedom House Ambulance Service, the first modern paramedic crew in the United States.

    Moon stopped on a bridge. A man was lying still on the walkway. Between him and Moon was a 12-foot-tall fence with razor-sharp wire on top. Moon hesitated for a moment—and then he began to climb. What choice did he have?

    For this patient, Moon was the only thing standing between life and death.

    Today we call 911 if we need medical help right away. An ambulance usually comes quickly. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) or paramedics treat us on the way to the hospital. But for most of history, this type of emergency care was not a regular part of life. 

    Moon grew up in the 1950s and ’60s. At the time, medical emergencies were handled by police departments, fire departments, and even funeral homes. Patients were tossed into a police vehicle or a hearse. They didn’t get much medical help on the way to the hospital. Often they died.   

    For Black Americans like Moon, the situation was even worse. Across the country, Black people faced discrimination. They were segregated, or separated, from White people in almost every area of life. Most had to live in different neighborhoods and go to inferior schools. 

    Moon and his family lived in the Hill District. It was a mostly Black neighborhood in Pittsburgh. In 1956, city officials tore down much of it to build a new sports arena, a highway, and office towers. What was left became overcrowded and run-down. 

    Emergency medical services weren’t great in Pittsburgh to begin with. But they were even worse in the Hill. If people called for help, they would be lucky if anyone came at all. 

    But that was about to change.

    Today we call 911 if we need medical help right away. An ambulance usually comes quickly. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) or paramedics treat us on the way to the hospital. But it wasn’t always this way.

    Moon grew up in the 1950s and ’60s. At the time, medical emergencies were handled by police departments, fire departments, and funeral homes. Patients rode in a police vehicle or a hearse. They didn’t get much medical help on the way to the hospital. Often they died.   

    For Black Americans like Moon, things were even worse. Across the country, Black people faced discrimination. They were segregated, or separated, from White people in many ways. Most had to live in different neighborhoods and go to inferior schools.

    Moon and his family lived in the Hill District. It was a mostly Black neighborhood in Pittsburgh. In 1956, city officials tore down much of it to build a new sports arena, a highway, and office towers. What was left became overcrowded and run-down.

    Emergency medical services weren’t great in Pittsburgh to begin with. In the Hill, they were even worse. If people called for help, they would be lucky if anyone came at all.

    But that was about to change.

    Today we call 911 if we need medical help immediately. An ambulance usually arrives quickly, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) or paramedics provide treatment on the way to the hospital. But for most of history, this type of emergency care wasn’t a regular part of life.

    Moon grew up in the 1950s and ’60s. At the time, medical emergencies were handled by police departments, fire departments, and even funeral homes. Patients were tossed into a police vehicle or a hearse, and they didn’t get much medical help on the way to the hospital. These patients often died.   

    For Black Americans like Moon, the situation was even worse. Across the country, Black people faced discrimination. They were segregated, or separated, from White people in almost every area of life. Most had to live in different neighborhoods and attend inferior schools.

    Moon and his family lived in the Hill District, a mostly Black neighborhood in Pittsburgh. In 1956, city officials tore down much of the neighborhood to build a new sports arena, a highway, and office towers. What remained became overcrowded and run-down.

    Emergency medical services were far from excellent in Pittsburgh to begin with, but they were even worse in the Hill. If people called for help, they would be lucky if anyone came at all.

    But that was about to change.

    In 1971, Moon was working at a hospital. The pay was low. And he didn’t love the work: tidying rooms, serving meals. He wanted something more.

    Then late one night, Moon saw two men in white uniforms. They were pushing a patient down the hallway on a stretcher. 

    The men were confident and in charge. “Those were Black guys,” he said to himself. He couldn’t believe it. 

    A couple of weeks later, he saw the men again. This time, Moon took a closer look at their uniforms. They said “Freedom House Ambulance.”

    In 1971, Moon was working at a hospital. The pay was low. And he didn’t love the work: tidying rooms, serving meals. He wanted something more.

    One night, Moon saw two men in white uniforms. They were pushing a patient down the hall on a stretcher. The men were confident and in charge. “Those were Black guys,” he thought. He was surprised.

    A few weeks later, he saw the men again. He took a closer look at their uniforms. They said “Freedom House Ambulance.”

    In 1971, Moon was working at a hospital. The pay was low, and he didn’t especially enjoy the work: tidying rooms, serving meals. He wanted something more.

    Then late one night, Moon noticed two men in white uniforms pushing a patient down the hallway on a stretcher.

    The men were confident and in charge. “Those were Black guys,” Moon said to himself, astonished.

    A couple of weeks later, Moon spotted the men again—and this time, he took a closer look at their uniforms. They said “Freedom House Ambulance.”

    The Freedom House Ambulance Service was started in 1967. This was during the civil rights movement. That’s when people across the country came together to fight for equal rights for Black Americans. 

    Freedom House was a Pittsburgh civil rights group. Along with a Pittsburgh medical charity, it had an idea: What if it started a new ambulance service in the Hill? This could make emergency care in the neighborhood better. It could also create good jobs for Hill residents.

    The group joined up with a local doctor, Peter Safar. Dr. Safar was known for pioneering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Today CPR is one of the most important parts of emergency care. But back then it was brand-new. Dr. Safar explained that in an emergency, every second counts. The ambulances would need medical equipment. And they should be staffed with paramedics. Those are people trained to treat patients on the way to the hospital. 

    Forty-four men from the Hill joined the first Freedom House paramedic training class. For eight months, the men studied the human body. They practiced CPR. They learned to treat bleeding wounds and broken bones. 

    Then in July 1968, the paramedics hit the streets.

    The Freedom House Ambulance Service was started in 1967. This was during the civil rights movement. That’s when people across the country came together to fight for equal rights for Black Americans.

    Freedom House was a Pittsburgh civil rights group. Along with a Pittsburgh medical charity, it started an ambulance service in the Hill. This would make emergency care in the neighborhood better. It would create good jobs for Hill residents too.

    The group joined up with a local doctor, Peter Safar. Dr. Safar was known for pioneering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Today CPR is one of the most important parts of emergency care. But back then it was new. Dr. Safar explained that in an emergency, every second counts. The ambulances would need medical equipment. And they should be staffed with paramedics. Those are people trained to treat patients on the way to the hospital.

    Forty-four men from the Hill joined the first Freedom House paramedic training class. For eight months, they studied the human body. They practiced CPR. They learned to treat bleeding wounds and broken bones.

    In July 1968, the men were ready. They hit the streets.

    The Freedom House Ambulance Service was started in 1967. This was during the civil rights movement, a time when people across the country came together to fight for equal rights for Black Americans.

    Freedom House was a Pittsburgh civil rights group. Along with a Pittsburgh medical charity, it came up with an exciting idea: to establish a new ambulance service in the Hill. This could improve emergency care in the neighborhood and also create employment opportunities for Hill residents.

    The group joined up with a local doctor named Peter Safar. Dr. Safar was known for pioneering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Today CPR is one of the most important aspects of emergency care, but back then it was brand-new. Dr. Safar explained that in an emergency, every second counts. The ambulances would need medical equipment, and they should be staffed with paramedics—people trained to treat patients on the way to the hospital.

    Forty-four men from the Hill joined the first Freedom House paramedic training class. For eight months, the men studied the human body. They practiced CPR, and they learned to treat bleeding wounds and broken bones.

    Then in July 1968, the paramedics hit the streets.

    Moon didn’t see the paramedics at the hospital until 1971. By then, the Freedom House crew was already saving hundreds of lives per year. 

    Moon marched into the Freedom House office and asked for a job. After months of training, he finally put on his own uniform.

    It was the summer of 1972. And Moon was terrified. He knew that if he messed up, people could die. But over the next few years, Moon’s confidence grew. 

    Still, with each emergency call, he never knew what he was going to walk into. Like that 12-foot-tall razor-sharp fence.

    On that spring day in 1975, Moon began to climb. The fence wobbled under his weight. At the top, barbed wire bit into his skin.

    Then he jumped.

    Landing hard, Moon rushed to the patient. The man wasn’t breathing. He didn’t have a pulse. Moon began CPR. It was continued the whole way to the hospital. 

    Thanks to Moon, the man survived.

    Moon saw the paramedics at the hospital in 1971. By then, the Freedom House crew was saving hundreds of lives per year.

    Moon went to the Freedom House office and asked for a job. After months of training, he was ready to work.

    It was the summer of 1972. Moon was scared. If he messed up, people could die. But over time, his confidence grew.

    Still, with each new call, he never knew what he would find. Like that tall, razor-sharp fence.

    On that day in 1975, Moon began to climb. The fence wobbled. At the top, barbed wire bit into his skin.

    Then he jumped.

    Moon rushed to the patient. The man wasn’t breathing. He didn’t have a pulse.

    Moon began CPR. It was continued all the way to the hospital.

    Thanks to Moon, the man survived.

    By the time Moon observed the paramedics at the hospital in 1971, the Freedom House crew was already saving hundreds of lives per year.

    Moon marched into the Freedom House office and asked for a job. After months of training, he was finally ready to put on his own uniform.

    It was the summer of 1972, and Moon was terrified. He knew that if he messed up, people could die. But over the next few years, Moon’s confidence grew.

    Still, with each emergency call, he never knew what he was going to walk into—like that 12-foot-tall razor-sharp fence.

    On that spring day in 1975, Moon began to climb. The fence wobbled under his weight. At the top, barbed wire bit into his skin.

    Then he jumped.

    Landing hard, Moon rushed to the patient. The man wasn’t breathing and didn’t have a pulse. Moon began CPR. It was continued the whole way to the hospital.

    Thanks to Moon, the man survived.

    By that time, news of Freedom House’s success had spread across the country. But sadly, its success would also bring about its downfall.

    In Pittsburgh, Black people in the Hill now had better emergency care than people in White, wealthy neighborhoods. Those White residents wanted a modern ambulance service too. 

    In May 1975, Pittsburgh’s mayor created a new ambulance service for the city. It began hiring its own paramedics. They were mostly young White men who had never worked on an ambulance before. 

    Meanwhile, Freedom House no longer got funding from the city. It was forced to close.

    By that time, news of Freedom House’s success had spread across the country. But sadly, its success would lead to its downfall.

    In Pittsburgh, Black people in the Hill had better emergency care than people in White, wealthy neighborhoods. Those White residents wanted a modern ambulance service too.

    In May 1975, Pittsburgh’s mayor created a new ambulance service for the city. It hired its own paramedics. They were mostly young White men who had never worked in an ambulance before.

    Freedom House no longer got funding from the city. It had to close.

    By that time, news of Freedom House’s success had spread across the country. But sadly, its success would also bring about its downfall.

    In Pittsburgh, Black people in the Hill now had better emergency care than people in White, wealthy neighborhoods. Those White residents wanted a modern ambulance service too.

    In May 1975, Pittsburgh’s mayor created a new ambulance service for the city. It began hiring its own paramedics. They were mostly young White men who had never worked on an ambulance before.

    Meanwhile, Freedom House no longer received funding from the city. It was forced to close.