Ambulances: From Antiquity to Modern Times

There has been much evolution and progress in the Emergency Medical Services systems worldwide. Today, it is not just a basic means of transporting the sick and injured to hospitals, but represents organised care and management of patients in the prehospital environment. Survival rates, in many instances, depend upon the proper management of these out-of hospital casualties and patients before they arrive at a healthcare facility. Issues such as state-of-the-art treatment, evidence based care protocols, medical accountability and professionalism have surfaced prominently. From the days of the first land and air ambulances, we have indeed come a long way.