Images(5)

Toy

Object number2019.89.31

Manufacturer The Ohio Art Company

OriginBryan, OH

MediumMetal; Plastic; Paint; Fabric cord; Velcro

Credit LineGift of Virginia Caliguiri

DescriptionParamedic toy with integral phone and defibrillator. Rounded rectangular metal box with red plastic handle on top. One hinged door on each face that secure closed with red plastic clamp. Exterior of one door has printed photograph of two children using the toy; on the inside of this door is a graphic of an oxygen tank and doctor check list. The exterior of the other door has printed graphic of toy contents. Inside of toy has blue cardboard structure with a plastic telephone on one side and a defibrillator on the other with red plastic nodes; the nodes and the telephone are each connected with spiral white fabric cord.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 10.375 × 7.375 × 3.875 in. (26.4 × 18.7 × 9.8 cm)
InscriptionsExteriors of both doors have red text at top "PARA-MEDIC".

Exterior sides and top of case has red text "EMERGENCY".

Each exterior side has black text "PARA-MEDIC / UNIT 45".

Inside of one door has black text including "DOCTOR / CHECK / LIST..."

Sides of telephone have raised text "SPEAK" and "LISTEN".

MarksOne exterior side has black text at bottom "[logo] / THE OHIO ART COMPANY / BRYAN, OHIO 43506 / U.S.A. 666A176".
Historical NotesParamedic defibrillator toy owned by Virginia Caliguiri. The toy was given to her by the executive director of the Emergency Medical Service Institute, Jerry Esposito, who is very well known in EMS and worked with Dr. Peter Safar and the Freedom House Project as director of the program before becoming ED of EMSI. Virginia "Ginny" Caliguiri was born and raised in an Italian American family the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. She lived among a small enclave of Calabrese families living on and around Imperial Street. Her older brother, Richard, was the 55th mayor of Pittsburgh from 1977 until his death from Amyloidosis in 1988. Ginny was very active in her brother’s campaign activities along with her mother, aunts, and other family members. She also participated annually in the Great Race, one of her brother’s city-wide initiatives, and other races like the Pittsburgh Marathon and the Amyloidosis race. Ginny worked in patient advocacy and emergency medical services. She was awarded the Director’s Award of Excellence from the City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Emergency Medical Services by Glenn Cannon in 2009. She served on the Board of Directors for Allegheny County’s Emergency Medical Service Institute from 1984-1995 and won an Outstanding Service Award from the Allegheny County EMS in 1990.

Previous owner Virginia Caliguiri

Previous owner Jerry Esposito

Related institution Emergency Medical Service Institute

Related institution Freedom House Ambulance Service (1967 - 1975)

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