You’ll be thrilled and proud of the people Hazzard introduces you to. Knowing them gives you a big chance to be thankful for all that professionals like them do ... This slice-of-history book is perfect for true-medicine fans, but adrenaline junkies might like it, too.
Reveals a hidden slice of history about the emergency services that we all depend on but largely take for granted. Kevin Hazzard, a print and television writer who worked as a paramedic in Atlanta for nearly a decade, does an excellent job of transforming his exhaustive research into a compelling narrative suitable to its gripping subject ... While the book is replete with white-knuckle medical emergencies, the real story here is the inspiring saga of how the paramedic profession was born ... American Sirens is a stirring, ultimately heartbreaking story in which jaw-dropping medical innovation meets racial prejudice. After finishing Hazzard’s memorable account, readers will never hear an ambulance siren the same way again.
Through extensive research and interviews, the author successfully incorporates the checkered history of paramedicine with the racial and social history of the mid-20th century. Furthermore, he engages the reader with the personal stories of all those involved in the development of the new system ... Hazzard has fashioned an exceptional work about radical changes in health care and the importance of community in dark times.
Riveting ... He also documents Freedom House’s battles with a stubborn mayor and police leaders, and the stirring stories of Black paramedics who developed methods now used by ambulance departments around the world. The result is a fascinating and deeply rewarding study of triumph in the face of adversity.
