ANTI-RACISM DAILY

May 8, 2024

Learn about Freedom House Ambulance Service.

TAKE ACTION

• Watch the 30-minute Emmy-winning documentary “Freedom House Ambulance — The First Responders” by WQED.

• Explore this list of scholarship programs aiming to support marginalized people pursuing careers in emergency medical services. 

GET EDUCATED

The Freedom House Ambulance Service, established in 1967, was the first to employ paramedics trained beyond basic first aid, bringing an unprecedented level of medical care directly to patients in need before they even reached the hospital.

What set Freedom House apart wasn't just its advanced medical capabilities. It had deep roots within the predominantly Black Hill District community it served, and was led by an all-African-American staff that provided compassionate, skilled care in an era of segregation and inequality.

Before this innovation, the U.S.'s idea of "ambulance service" was somewhat rudimentary. Police or local funeral homes, equipped with little more than a stretcher, were responsible for whisking patients to the hospital with no medical care en route. This system (or lack thereof) was drastically failing its citizens: studies indicated that 50,000 deaths each year could be prevented if cities had more adequate pre-hospital care.

In Pittsburgh’s Hill District, a predominantly Black neighborhood, a group of men organized to respond to growing health needs in their community. Many of them were labeled as “unemployables”—people who hadn’t graduated from high school, had been previously convicted, or were war veterans. None had any formal medical training. But together, they shaped Freedom House. As the organization grew, it continued to train and employ other community members, providing a pipeline for individuals otherwise ignored by medical fields (EMS1).

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

Within their first year, they provided an exceptional standard of care that eclipsed existing services, earning them a stellar reputation that often led to them being requested instead of the police. The organization responded to nearly 5,800 calls and transported over 4,600 patients from predominantly black neighborhoods to medical facilities. Data indicated that they saved an estimated 200 lives. Law enforcement was known for their slow response times when called by community members. Still, Freedom House paramedics consistently arrived within ten minutes, demonstrating commitment and efficiency that revolutionized emergency healthcare service. Their dedication transformed expectations and stitched a bond of trust within the community.

The Freedom House Ambulance Service served its community for seven years until the city of Pittsburgh implemented its own comprehensive ambulance service. Dr. Nancy Caroline, former medical director at Freedom House, joined that initiative under the conditions that Freedom House staff would be hired and their teams would remain intact. But this agreement wasn’t honored—crews were split, those with records were fired, and many failed newly introduced exams. Others were relegated to lesser roles. Within a year, only half of the original 26 remained; only five stayed long-term, with just one advancing into leadership. By the late 90s, 98% of the service's staff was white, a racial disparity reflected in other cities across the country. Even today, only about 8% of paramedics across the U.S. are Black (Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians).

Despite this, Freedom House Ambulance Service's pioneering work laid the foundation for the approach that emergency medical services take today. It proved how paramedics can save lives with proper training in medical care and engaging in a culturally responsive way with the community. Most importantly, it proved how influential smaller-scale, community-driven initiatives can be in shifting public policy and practice.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Freedom House Ambulance Service, founded in 1967, was revolutionary in employing the first paramedics trained beyond basic first aid and providing advanced medical care before reaching the hospital.

• Before its inception, U.S. ambulance services were scant , leading to potentially preventable deaths.

• Freedom House employed community members with no formal medical background, including those labeled as "unemployables," transforming them into skilled paramedics.

• Despite its success and saving an estimated 200 lives in its first year, the city's new ambulance service later broke its promise to integrate Freedom House staff without prejudice.

LEARN MORE

• Read: How a team of Black paramedics set the gold standard for emergency medical response (NPR)

• America’s First Paramedics Were Black. Their Achievements Were Overlooked for Decades (UCSF)

• From low pay to workplace culture, obstacles litter the path to diversity in EMS (STAT News)