Hey there!  Amanda here—with a brand new blog post. 

It’s no surprise that the field of emergency services is fascinating and downright bizarre. That’s why you picked this awesome, crazy, intense career path, am I right?!

Well today we’ll be talking about fun and random EMS facts.

Below are some fun factoids to impress your partner or anyone hanging out at the water cooler. Follow along to see how many you know!

1. The same monarchs who funded Columbus’s voyage, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, gave us the word ambulancia sometime during the late 1400s. These were the first recorded field hospitals, consisting of individual tents equipped with basic medical and surgical equipment. It’s safe to say we’ve come a long way from the original ambulancias. 

2. When New York launched it’s first ambulance in 1869, vehicles were horse-drawn and sounded a gong to get drivers to pull over. The first aid bag contents included a stomach pump, bandages and sponges, handcuffs, a straitjacket, and a quart of brandy. Wow, have times changed…for the better. Boiiing!

3. Widespread use of gloves was not common in until the early 1990s, with the spread of the AIDS virus. Wait, what? That wasn’t so long ago at all!

4. The term siren has its origins in Greek mythology, referencing a mermaid-like songstress luring sailors with a sweet song— ultimately leading many sailors to shipwreck.Hand-cranked sirens first started appearing on ambulances in the mid-1920s.

5. Major cities across the United States have private ambulance companies that respond to neighborhoods with specifically assigned EMTs who speak the language of that neighborhood. These specialized companies help to aid communication and provide quick relief for those who don’t speak English as their native tongue. 

We hoped you enjoyed the read and got to learn a little something new today. Thanks for following along!