For those who picture the exciting streets of San Francisco from TV shows, the reality of emergency services in the 1970s was a different story. Working for Federal Ambulance Service in 1973-74 offered a firsthand look at a system that was far from the polished image sometimes portrayed.
Our fleet at Federal was a mix of Superior hightops and a few MM ambulances, which were generally reliable. However, the city’s own ambulance service was often the subject of jokes among us. Their equipment, including what seemed like World War II-era stretchers, was noticeably outdated. In fact, it wasn’t uncommon for the San Francisco city service to call us for patient transport. Often, patients or their families specifically requested a “modern” service, preferring to avoid the city’s antiquated system, especially in serious situations like CPR cases.
Interestingly, the International ambulances were sometimes repurposed by the San Francisco Police Department. When their paddy wagons were unavailable or they needed extra transport, these ambulances would be used as makeshift police vehicles.
One particularly memorable instance occurred during Fleet Week, a time when North Beach, known for places like the Condor Club and Carol Doda’s topless dancing – quite a novelty then – was packed with sailors. We received a call about a large bar fight with multiple injuries. Arriving on the scene, we saw a San Francisco “Ambulance” with four people sitting upright in the back. We inquired if they had things under control. The driver’s response was classic: “Oh no, these are just some drunks we’re transporting for the PD. We can still take a patient or two if you have them.” This kind of paddy wagon/ambulance hybrid situation wasn’t unusual at the time!
I recall the owners of Federal and Mercy-Peninsula attempting to convince the city to privatize their ambulance service, but the city refused. They maintained that their service was “adequate” and provided good “value.” Ah, the 1970s in San Francisco – a far cry from the sleek emergency services you might see depicted on TV today, even in shows set on the streets of San Francisco.
