Excerpts from jems.com:
The 70’s TV show “Emergency!” introduced the concept of paramedics to millions of viewers and inspired thousands to become EMS practitioners themselves. Some historians say it launched modern EMS in the U.S.
Now the two stars of the show are co-producing a documentary to tell the story of today’s paramedic—following a pandemic that strained our healthcare system and revealed the critical role that paramedics play in caring for their communities.
“My life was saved by two firefighter paramedics,” said Randy Mantooth, who played Johnny Gage in the series. “My sister’s life was saved by a paramedic and a flight nurse. They literally gave us our lives back, and yet I don’t even know their names.”
“Over-worked, sometimes overlooked and nearly always taken for granted, paramedics are real-world heroes,” Mantooth said. “My hope is that “Into the Unknown” will provide the public with an understanding of and appreciation for the critical role these individuals play.”
“Paramedics have to deal with unending fatigue and stress,” said Kevin Tighe, who played Roy Desoto in the series. “This is a topic we have to explore not only on the job but also at home. We have to face it and also show how it can be successfully overcome.”
The project will realistically depict the lives and jobs of half a dozen paramedic crews around the nation.
The project has an advisory board made up of 18 key industry leaders and is endorsed by 20 of the major national EMS organizations, representing almost 2 million members. Baxter Larmon, PhD, a nationally recognized EMS educator/researcher, and a Professor of Emergency Medicine at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, serves on the executive committee for “Into the Unknown.”
