{"id":244657,"date":"2026-04-24T16:04:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T20:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=244657"},"modified":"2026-04-27T09:34:31","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T13:34:31","slug":"uconn-fire-department-celebrates-50-years-of-paramedics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2026\/04\/uconn-fire-department-celebrates-50-years-of-paramedics\/","title":{"rendered":"UConn Fire Department Celebrates 50 Years of Paramedics"},"content":{"rendered":"

A brave new world in emergency medicine traces its Connecticut origins to UConn Health in 1975, when 12 firefighters enrolled in the Northeast\u2019s first paramedic training class this side of Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n

Paramedicine was a new and largely unheard of concept at the time Greg Metcalf \u2014 then the public safety director at what was known as the UConn Health Center \u2014 proposed, advocated for, and ultimately won the support for bringing paramedics to the state, with an inaugural class of 12.<\/p>\n

\"file<\/a>
The first UConn Health firefighter paramedics demonstrate a Hurst tool, also known as “the jaws of life.” From left: Jerry Rio, Don Perrault, Dave Smith, and Walt Rasmussen. “We had the first one in the Farmington Valley; only Wethersfield and Enfield had one at the time,” says Smith, who was an extrication instructor for the state. It weighed about 45 pounds, plus at least another 60 pounds for the motor. (Photo provided by Dave Smith)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\"Fire<\/a>
UConn Fire Capt. Anthony Ruggiero emcees the UConn Fire Department\u2019s celebration of 50 years of paramedic service April 17, 2026. (Photo by Coral Ruggiero)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cEight East Hartford firefighters and four UConn Firefighters \u2014 Capt. Dave Smith, Capt. Jerry Rio, Lt. Don Perreault, and firefighter Walt Rasmussen \u2014 bravely stepped forward to blaze a path for EMS in Connecticut that had never been attempted, let alone dreamed of, before,\u201d said UConn Fire Capt. Anthony Ruggiero, himself a paramedic, at a UConn Fire Department ceremony to celebrate 50 years paramedic services in Connecticut. \u201cToday we stand on the shoulders of these giants, pioneers of modern medicine in a world where paramedicine is now a household name.\u201d<\/p>\n

Perrault and Smith attended, each presented with a plaque and a proclamation from the Connecticut General Assembly to honor their service as Connecticut\u2019s first paramedics. Rasmussen and Rio were unable to attend.<\/p>\n

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How many jobs can you talk about 50-something years later and have something like this? It\u2019s unbelievable. — Dave Smith<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/blockquote><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Group<\/a>
Retirees who attended the UConn Fire Department\u2019s celebration of 50 years of paramedic service April 17, 2026, include (front row, from left) firefighter\/EMT Al Madden, Deputy Chief\/paramedic Bob Howe. (back row, from left) firefighter\/paramedic Dave Marsland, firefighter\/paramedic Francis Brunet, Lt. Don Perrault (one of the original paramedics), Capt. Dave Smith (one of the original paramedics), firefighter\/paramedic Ed Higgins, and Capt.\/paramedic PJ Roche. Also pictured is a photo of Rescue 1, UConn Health\u2019s first paramedic vehicle, and a \u201cBiophone,\u201d a mid-70s version of a portable EKG\/communications unit. (Photo by Coral Ruggiero)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Metcalf, who lives in Utah, flew in for the ceremony, also accepted a plaque, reluctantly, after Perrault told him, \u201cWithout you, none of this would have happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI would\u2019ve said there\u2019s no way we would have made it this far, that, quite honestly, if we made it to the next day, that was always a pleasant surprise,\u201d Metcalf said when asked if he was told in 1975 he\u2019d be attending a ceremony marking 50 years of paramedics in in the UConn Fire Department. \u201cNo, I never thought I\u2019d be seeing you here at the 50th<\/sup>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really grateful, I mean, I\u2019m kind of amazed,\u201d said Smith, who in 1971 was the first firefighter hired to the UConn Health Fire Department. \u201cHow many jobs can you talk about 50-something years later and have something like this? It\u2019s unbelievable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Bill<\/a>
Bill Perkins speaking at podium<\/div>
260417-paramedics-50-perkins-1500x1000-DSC_7186<\/div>
Retired UConn Health Fire Chief William Perkins (Photo by Coral Ruggiero)<\/div><\/div>\"Bob<\/a>
Bob Howe speaking at podium<\/div>
260417-paramedics-50-howe-1500x1000-DSC_7161<\/div>
Retired UConn Health Deputy Fire Chief Bob Howe (Photo by Coral Ruggiero)<\/div><\/div>\"Rich<\/a>
Rich Kamin speaking at podium<\/div>
260417-paramedics-50-kamin-1500x1000-DSC_7117<\/div>
Dr. Rich Kamin is UConn Health\u2019s EMS program director and also serves as medical director for the Connecticut Office of Emergency Medical Services. (Photo by Coral Ruggiero)<\/div><\/div>\"environmental<\/a>
environmental portrait man in blue firefighter uniform<\/div>
Walt<\/div>
Walt Rasmussen is one of four UConn Health firefighters who graduated from Connecticut's first class of paramedics, held at UConn Health in 1975. (Photo provided by Irene Engel).<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn Health's original paramedic van, Rescue 1<\/div>
Rescue-1-color<\/div>
Rescue 1 was the UConn Health Fire Department's first paramedic vehicle. (Photo provided by the UConn Health Fire Department)<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn Health Fire Department's Rescue vehicle<\/div>
Rescue-2<\/div>
Dave Smith, the first firefighter hired by UConn Health, tests the hose on Engine 1 in the mid-70s on what later would be paved as main road on campus. (Photo provided by Dave Smith)<\/div><\/div>\"paramedics<\/a>
paramedics demonstrating paramedic equipment in 1975<\/div>
Rescue-1-demonstration-cropped-again<\/div>
UConn Health firefighters Don Perrault and Jerry Rio, two of Connecticut's first paramedics, demonstrate a defibrillator in 1975. At lower right is a telemetry unit that enabled communication with the emergency department so the paramedics could work under the direction of a physician in real time. (Photo provided by Dave Smith)<\/div><\/div>\"firefighters<\/a>
firefighters demonstrate jaws of life on a car<\/div>
FirefightersCarRescue_JGelineau7346s<\/div>
Lt. Anthony Ruggiero leads a vehicle extrication exercise for emergency medicine residents May 2016, part of the UConn Health Fire Department's continuing mission of training and education. (Photo by Janine Gelineau)<\/div><\/div>\"file<\/a>
file photo from 1970s two women in fire vehicle<\/div>
Rescue-2-Irene-with-Cindy-Shipps<\/div>
From left: Nurse supervisors Irene Engel and Cindy Shipps, pictured here in the UConn Health Fire Department's newly acquired Rescue 2 paramedic vehicle in 1979, helped familiarize emergency department nurses with paramedics by having the nurses go out on calls with them. (Photo submitted by Irene Engel)<\/div><\/div>\"group<\/a>
group portrait at former World Trade Center site in New York City within hours of the 9\/11 attacks<\/div>
uchc_ny<\/div>
Members of the UConn Health Special Operations Unit traveled to New York City in a specially equipped vehicle and were assigned to provide medical support for the New York Urban Search and Rescue Team. They are from left to right: William Perkins, Carmine Centrella, John Kowalski, Dr. Robert Fuller, Greg Priest, Ben Sonstrom, and, kneeling, Daryl Byrne. Fuller at the time was chair of emergency medicine. The others were paramedics with the special tactical training. (File photo)<\/div><\/div>\"file<\/a>
file photo of fire truck and old fire house circa 1970s<\/div>
Engine-1-in-1st-firehouse<\/div>
Engine 1, the first UConn Health fire truck, was acquired in 1971. The original fire house, pictured in 1974, was little more than a garage bay to house that engine. (Photo submitted by Dave Smith)<\/div><\/div>\"firefighter<\/a>
firefighter testing hose on fire engine<\/div>
Dave-on-Engine-1-unpaved-road<\/div>
Dave Smith, the first firefighter hired by UConn Health, tests the hose on Engine 1 in the mid-70s on what later would be paved as main road on campus. (Photo provided by Dave Smith)<\/div><\/div>\"paramedics<\/a>
paramedics in lower Manhattan on 9\/11<\/div>
photo2_ny<\/div>
The response team from UConn Health Center used their skills and training to assist search and rescue efforts after the attacks. <\/div><\/div>\"paramedics<\/a>
paramedics in lower Manhattan on 9\/11<\/div>
photo1_ny<\/div>
A team of UConn Health tactical paramedics and an emergency medicine physician responded to lower Manhattan Sept. 11, 2001. (Photo courtesy of the UConn Health Fire Department)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>