Untold Story: How Freedom House Transformed EMS with Guest John Moon | S5 E20
Tune in as John Moon, retired Assistant Chief of Pittsburgh E.M.S. and a former Freedom House Ambulance Service paramedic, shares the powerful story of Freedom House, the first Black-led EMS organization in the U.S.
Tune in as John Moon, retired Assistant Chief of Pittsburgh E.M.S. and a former Freedom House Ambulance Service paramedic, shares the powerful story of Freedom House, the first Black-led EMS organization in the U.S. We learn how they revolutionized emergency medical services, providing critical care when it was desperately needed in their community. John shares the challenges they faced, the innovative practices they pioneered, and their significant impact on EMS today. This is more than just history; it's a story of resilience and leadership that every EMS professional should know.
Join us to learn how the legacy of Freedom House continues to shape emergency medical services. Don’t miss this chance to connect with the past, understand the roots of emergency services, and learn how these lessons can influence and inspire current and future generations of paramedics and EMTs. Click play now!
This episode is also made possible by FD Teas:
Website: https://FDTeas.com
This episode is also made possible by First Responder Center for Excellence:
Website: https://firstrespondercenter.org/
Contact John Moon:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-moon-b130077a/
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John Moon
Paramedic with Freedom House | Assistant Chief Pittsburgh EMS | Speaker
John Moon began his EMS career in 1972 with Freedom House Ambulance, inspired by the crews he observed while working as an orderly in a local hospital. After completing his training, he was selected by Dr. Peter Safar to be the first medic to perform tracheal intubation in an operating room. He is also credited with performing the first field intubation by a paramedic. When Pittsburgh ended its contract with Freedom House in 1975 to start its own ambulance service, Moon was one of the few paramedics who successfully transitioned.
At Pittsburgh EMS, he became a certified Master Scuba Diver, the first African American in Pittsburgh Public Safety to achieve this. He developed the department's first Diversity Recruitment Program, leading to the hiring of Amera Gilchrist, who became Pittsburgh EMS's first African American female chief in 2023. Moon retired as an Assistant Chief in 2009 after 34 years of service.
