Dr. Nagel’s Helmet
The American anesthesiologist, Dr. Eugene L. Nagel earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1949, and a medical degree in 1959. This fortunate combination of skills led to important advances in lifesaving methods. His interest in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) began during his residency, and continued throughout his career. In 1964 he volunteered to teach CPR to members of the Miami, FL, Fire Department. From this start grew one of the first emergency medical services (EMS) departments in the country. There, he invented the use of telemetry for reporting a patient’s condition before arrival at the hospital, and introduced the use of defibrillators, intravenous therapy, and endotracheal intubation by paramedics. The Fire Department presented him with this helmet as a parting gift when he left Miami in 1974. Dr. Nagel also helped to create EMS programs in several other cities in the United States, and in Israel, and served as a consultant to the producers of “Emergency!”, the first television show that focused on the work of paramedics. He has received several honors for his pioneering work in this field.
Catalog Record: Dr. Nagel’s Helmet
Access Key: aler
Accession No.: 2012-03-19-1
Title: [Dr. Nagel’s Miami Fire Department helmet.]
Title variation: Alt Title
Title: Nagel helmet.
Publisher: Pittsburgh, PA : CairnsHelmets, [between 1970 and 1974?].
Physical Descript: 1 helmet : fiberglass, plastics, paint, textiles, metals ; 19 x 32.5 x 43 cm.
Subject: Resuscitation – history.
Subject: Nagel, Eugene L.
Note Type: Acquisition
Notes: Date range for the possible year of manufacture is based around the year that
the City of Miami Fire Department presented this helmet to Dr. Nagel (1974).
The date range could change if documentation, or expert opinion, indicates
that it should be corrected.
Note Type: General
Notes: The title is descriptive and based on the WLM’s common name for the object.
Note Type: General
Notes: Archives Database Sydney Key: akpt.
Note Type: Physical Description
Notes: One white fire helmet with a clear pivoting face shield; Yellow reflective
strips are on the sides and back of the outside of the helmet; Printed on a
semi-circle of orange tape on each side of the helmet is, “EMS CHIEF”; Inside
the helmet impact cap is a suspension system and cushioning; Suspended from
the inside are protective earlaps made of heavy duty yellow and black
textiles; Manufacturer markings are located on two large stickers inside the
helmet, and one small clear sticker on the face shield; On one of the
stickers in the helmet the following is printed, along with usage
instructions and warnings, “660C” and “CairnsHELMETS”.
Note Type: Reproduction
Notes: Photographed by Mr. Steve Donisch during January or February, 2014.
Note Type: Historical
Notes: The American anesthesiologist, Dr. Eugene L. Nagel earned a bachelor’s degree
in electrical engineering in 1949, and a medical degree in 1959. This
fortunate combination of skills led to important advances in lifesaving
methods. His interest in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) began during his
residency, and continued throughout his career. In 1964 he volunteered to
teach CPR to members of the Miami, FL, Fire Department. From this start grew
one of the first emergency medical services (EMS) departments in the country.
There, he invented the use of telemetry for reporting a patient’s condition
before arrival at the hospital, and introduced the use of defibrillators,
intravenous therapy, and endotracheal intubation by paramedics. The Fire
Department presented him with this helmet as a parting gift when he left
Miami in 1974. Dr. Nagel also helped to create EMS programs in several other
cities in the United States, and in Israel, and served as a consultant to the
producers of “Emergency!”, the first television show that focused on the work
of paramedics. He has received several honors for his pioneering work in this
field.
Note Type: Acquisition
Notes: Donated to the WLM by Dr. Eugene Nagel; The City of Miami Fire Department
presented this helmet to Dr. Nagel when he left Miami in 1974.
