Speeding down highways and weaving in and out of traffic, ambulances come to our aid when needed the most. Throughout history and even still in today’s society, ambulances are the key tool in giving people the emergency help they need to survive. Over time the ambulance has evolved and its technology has advanced, giving more people a better chance at a good outcome.
To begin, the concept of ambulances date back as early as 1487. Rooting from the word Ambulare, the Latin term meaning to move about, the Spanish were among the first people to use ambulances. They referred to them as ambulance wagons and were used to pick up wounded soldiers. The ambulance wagons followed the army wherever it went, aided the injured, and then returned them back to battle. Ambulance wagons were used consistently during war time for many years after that in both the Revolutionary War and the Civil …show more content…
William A. Hammond was selected to be Surgeon General in 1862. This was the first time that a position was made to oversee and help advance the health and well-being of the military. Along with his work to sanitize hospital camps, Hammond is also known as the “Father of the Modern Ambulance.” Hammond replaced regular soldiers that formerly drove the wagons, with doctors that knew how to properly aid the patient. He also designed a wagon with two beds in it, which turned out to be the first built ambulance. Finally, Hammond appointed one ambulance to every 150 soldiers to lessen overcrowding and to ensure more help for the wounded. This was the first successful ambulance and emergency transport system in the United