Seattle Fire Department Medic I and II Records, 1969-1992

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle (Wash.). Fire Dept.
Title
Seattle Fire Department Medic I and II Records
Dates
1969-1992 (inclusive)
Quantity
3 cubic feet, (5 boxes)
Collection Number
2805-01
Summary
Records documenting the establishment and operations of the Seattle Fire Department's Medic I and Medic II programs.
Repository
Seattle Municipal Archives
Seattle Municipal Archives
Office of the City Clerk
City of Seattle
PO Box 94728
98124-4728
Seattle, WA
Telephone: 2062337807
Fax: 2063869025
archives@seattle.gov
Access Restrictions

Records are open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for processing this record series was provided through a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

A Fire Department was established by City Charter in 1883. It provided for equipment purchases, but not for hiring of firefighters. Following the Great Fire of 1889, a professional fire department was created with five district fire stations and purchase of a fire boat. The first Fire Chief of the professional department was Gardner Kellogg who served 1890-1892 and 1895-1901. A Board of Fire Commissioners was established by the 1890 City Charter to prescribe rules and regulations for the Department. The Board's responsibilities included enforcing rules violations, and appointing the Fire Chief and all subordinate officers. The Board was abolished with passage of a new City Charter in 1896. The position of Fire Marshal was established in 1901 with responsibility for inspecting buildings to insure they were in compliance the ordinances related to building construction and fire protection. The Fire Marshal also inspects all fires and reports on the causes. The Department's mission is to curtail loss of life and property by fire through inspection and certification of building safety systems, public education, regulation of hazardous material storage, and fire suppression.

The Seattle Fire Department has operated a First Aid Unit Program on a 24-hour per day basis since 1942. As the population grew, life support systems for persons en route to the emergency room grew to be a critical issue. Providing expert life support medical care at the scene of an accident and during transport to the hospital was the goal of Seattle’s Mobile Intensive Coronary Care Unit, or Medic I program. The idea was brought to fruition by University of Washington cardiologist Leonard Cobb, working with Seattle Fire Chief Gordon Vickery. The Seattle Fire Department participated with the University of Washington School of Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, and the State of Washington Coordinating Council for Educational Occupation to bring paramedic technicians to the scene of accidents. Training began in 1969 and the first Medic One call was on March 7,1970. Paramedics are first employed as firefighters. Services were expanded throughout King County in 1976, and other counties in Washington State began adopting their own Medic One programs. As of 2009 there were six Medic One programs in King County; Seattle Medic One is operated by the Seattle Fire Department and funded by the city’s general fund.

The response system of 911, medical dispatch, basic life support, and paramedic advanced life support has an international reputation for excellence in pre-hospital emergency care. The program was featured on "60 Minutes," and correspondent Morley Safer stated, “If you have to have a heart attack, have it in Seattle.” The Medic One Foundation grew out of donations for the program and became an independent foundation; it became a tax-exempt organization in 1975. The Foundation receives and distributes contributions on behalf of the Medic I program.

The Medic II Program started in 1971 and provides training classes in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and choking techniques. It is based on research showing that prompt bystander CPR more than doubles a patient’s chances of becoming a long-term survivor. Classes are taught by firefighters on their own time; they are compensated out of a donated budget.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This series consists of correspondence, reports, financial information, training material, and public relations material relating to emergency medical services of the Fire Department. Also includes board materials for the Medic One Emergency Medical Services Foundation. In addition to financial information, the Foundation board materials contain information about research projects relating to various aspects of cardiac arrest.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Seattle Fire Department Medic I and II Records , Record Series 2805-01. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

2805-01:  Seattle Fire Department Medic I and II Records , 1969-1992Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Mobile Intensive / Coronary Care Unit
1971
1/2
Medic II, Program Summary
1972
1/3
Medic III (Paramedic, EMT)
1971
1/4
Medic III (Paramedic, EMT)
1974
1/5
Medic III (Paramedic, EMT)
1973
1/6
Medic III (Paramedic, EMT)
1972
1/7
Medic I, General
1978
1/8
Medic I, General
1977
1/9
Mobile Intensive / Coronary Care Unit, Project Report
1971
1/10
Proposal for 90-hour Emergency Care Training
1971
1/11
Proposal for 90-hour Emergency Care Training
1971
1/12
Medic I, Film
1972-1976
1/13
Medic I, General
1980
1/14
Medic I, General
1979
1/15
Medic I, Bellevue
1972
1/16
Mobile Intensive / Coronary Care Unit, Training Program
1971
2/1
Medic I, SIDS Committee
1976
2/2
Medic I, General
1976
2/3
Medic I, General
1976
2/4
Medic I and II, Information
1978
2/5
Medic I and II, Information
1977
2/6
Medic I and II, Information
1976
2/7
Medic I, General
1973
2/8
Medic I, General
1972
2/9
Coronary Care Unit
1970
2/10
Mobile Intensive / Coronary Care Unit
1971
3/1
Medic One Emergency Medical Services Foundation - Agendas, Meeting Minutes and supporting materials
1984-1989
4/1
Medic One Emergency Medical Services Foundation - Agendas, Meeting Minutes and supporting materials
1990-1992
4/2
Medic I - Fiscal
1969-1970
4/3
Medic I - Fiscal
1971-1979
5/1
Medic II - Fiscal
1971-1976
5/2
Medic II - Fiscal
1977-1979

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • CPR (First aid)--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Emergency medical services--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Paramedics--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Sudden infant death syndrome--Washington (State)--Seattle

Personal Names

  • Copass, Michael K.

Corporate Names

  • Seattle (Wash.). Fire Dept.

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.).

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Cobb, Leonard A. (creator)