#Minneapolis #ChangeTheCharter Just as casting a final vote to enfranchise women is an important lesson in history of signals and bravery (per my rushed public hearing testimony), so to is the fascinating history of paramedicine, which I awkwardly referenced. 1/x

I submitted this important history as a slide deck to the commission. 2/x

Pre-1970s, when you needed to go to the hospital, more often than not the police would give you the ride. Survival rates weren't great! Police weren't trained to give the aide needed. And treatment was worse for POC. 3/x

In Pittsburgh, a doctor, Freedom House, a primarily black institution, teamed up with a local doctor, who happened to be the "father of CPR" and launched the first extensive training that would become what we recognize as paramedicine or EMT services today. 4/x

When people, especially in communities of color, needed emergency transportation to the hospital they began calling Freedom House to have someone trained in basic emergency medicine to aide them instead of the police. Outcomes improved drastically. 5/x

US DOT and http://EMS.gov  recognize Freedom House Ambulance Service as the first paramedic practitioners. 6/x

See more sources! The story is fascinating and a example of #BlackExcellence. Unfortunately, racism would be the downfall of Freedom House Ambulance Service, but their work was groundbreaking and should be recognized as model for the development of new strategies... 7/

...that enhance public safety. 50 years ago we have allocated responsibilities away from the police and had better outcomes. And we can do it again! #history 8/8