The Heartmobile

The Central Ohio Fire Museum is the permanent home of the Columbus Heartmobile. The Heartmobile was the first mobile coronary care unit in the United States. The program began in 1969 to study the outcomes of cardiac patients who received prehospital care. The results of the study became the foundation of emergency medical care in the United States.

The Heartmobile was originally staffed by three Columbus firefighters and a doctor from The Ohio State University Medical Center. Within a short period of time, changes in state legislation allowed the firefighters to work as “paramedics” and administer advanced cardiac care without a doctor on board.

The Heartmobile was replaced in 1972 by new medic units. For the next 13 years it served as a recruitment vehicle and a transport for the Columbus Fire Honor Guard. After being rescued from the salvage yard by the founders of the Central Ohio Fire Museum, it sat in storage until 2005.

By then the fire museum had opened and the Heartmobile had a permanent home. Unfortunately, the years of wear and tear had taken their toll and the vehicle needed extensive (and expensive) work. Working with OSU Medical Center, museum staff and volunteers began a fundraising program to restore the Heartmobile. To save money, a group of volunteers met at the museum annex every Wednesday night for 8 years to restore the Heartmobile a little bit at a time.

Today visitors to the museum can see this completely restored unique piece of EMS history as part of their tour.