Here in a follow up story, the actor who played "Johnny Gage", aka Randolph Mantooth, talks about what it was like behind the cameras and microphones as the country was introduced to firefighters responding to medical calls.
"It was a time when firefighters responded to fires and not woman having babies or old men having heart attacks".
The series ran from 1972 - 1977. In many cities across the country, certainly in New York City, it was the PEAK TIME in the history of the FDNY for the most fires. As we know, for the FDNY it was called: "The FDNY War Years" and much has been written about it and it is still talked about these days.
Firefighters across the country would say: 'We're Firefighters NOT Doctors".
The term EMT, Paramedic, blood pressure, pulse rate, seemed like a foreign language to most firefighters.
When I was hired to be a firefighter in 1975, I was told I MUST attend EMT School on my off time, for which there was no pay at the time. I would have one year to complete it but if I want that job, that's what I would have to do. When I was working, they would get a guy to come in for 4 hours to cover my place.
Out of a small 60 man department in 1975/76, I was one of only 12 EMTs, mostly all newly hired firefighters. But I was okay with it.
This TV Show had a huge impact on the fire service across the entire country. People began to expect to see firefighters responding on medical calls.
And it all began with a couple of Hollywood TV Characters by the name of Roy Desoto and Johnny Gage.
Here the TV Character named Johnny Gage talks a little bit about making those TV shows of Emergency. Some may find it kind of hard to hear, so listen closely.
In this video, at the 1:40 min mark, he talks about a L.A. County Battalion Chief named Jim Page. Jim Page was ahead of his time. He had wrote a book about the fire service and EMS after he retired. I remember reading in that book; (Quote) "If a fire truck can respond to a trash can fire, why can't it respond to someone having a heart attack or having breathing problems". It certainly made sense to me.
So take it away Johnny:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kTARbHZHkg