EMS: What is It?

EMS stands for Emergency Medical Services which is a diverse field with a rich history. This rich history dates back to the field hospitals of Spain's Queen Isabel and to the volunteers in the Napoleonic Wars who moved injured troops from the front lines to the back where they could be treated by physicians.

The beginnings of modern EMS emerged in 1865 when Cincinatti, Oh developed the first hospital-based ambulance service which only added to their already rich public safety heritage by having the first paid career fire department in the nation as well. This service was operated out of the old Commercial Hospital.

These first ambulances were further improved with the emergence of steam and gasoline engines in the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as trauma treatment advances thanks to World War I, II, and the Vietnam and Korean wars. EMS was further defined in the 1960's with the development of CPR and cardiac defibrillation standards.

Since then field has seen one revolutionary change after another as technology advances, allowing us to make equipment that is smaller, lighter, and far more functional than the early years. It's mission is simple; to provide high quality emergency and non-emergency pre-hospital care, health education, and prevention of injury. This mission remains a guiding principle in all nature of calls be it cardiac, medical, trauma, pediatric, geriatric or special needs and beyond.

Today EMS has become an important aspect of life that billions of people rely upon worldwide; and it's still the only medical field that makes true house calls.