Early equipment was heavy and cumbersome compared to that used today. Medic 1 and 2 started with the Physio-Control LifePak 4 which weighed 45 lbs compared to todays LifePak 12,  which weighs 18 lbs. Medics also carried a large Plano 747 fishing tackle box for drugs. and a dual tank Robertshaw demand valve/resuscitator. The LifePak 5 became the standard in 1976 and remained in use until 1998.

     The original Jacobi Paramedics utilized two portable radios for contact with their base physician... one for voice and one patched to the LifePak for EKG telemetry.

     When expansion of Paramedic units commenced in 1978, all units were equipped with the 1 watt Motorola Apcor Telemetry radio. The Apcor was about half a large as todays radio because each dedicated paramedic ambulance was equipped with a vehicle mounted repeater system. In later years, as additional receiver sites were established around the city, the vehicle repeater system was no longer required, and the use of the 12 watt Apcor radios allowed paramedics to utilize other spare ambulances when their primary ambulance was unavailable.

     The early medic units also pioneered the field use of nitrous oxide, a non narcotic analgesic.

Physio Lifepak 5-Medic 385

The first Medic 385-Ambulance 167.

Note lack of secure storage added on later designs.

Intubation Kit- Medic 385- replaced the black box