Ambulance

An ambulance is a vehicle designated for the transport of sick or injured people. The first ambulances called by that name were horse ambulances used in the American Civil War. The first practical ambulances were created by Dominique Jean Larrey, a French surgeon (1766-1842), for use in the Napoleonic Wars. Modern-day ambulances are typically large automobiles on a van or light truck chassis.

Related Topics:
Vehicle - People - Horse - American Civil War - Dominique Jean Larrey - Surgeon - 1766 - 1842 - Napoleonic Wars - Automobile - Van - Truck - Chassis

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However, an ambulance can be any vehicle, including a bus, helicopter, or even a hospital ship. During the 1960s and 1970s, station wagons were used in some American cities (despite their limited space) and can be seen in motion pictures from that period.

Related Topics:
Bus - Helicopter - Hospital ship - Station wagon - Motion picture

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In some countries civilian ambulances may use the symbol referred to as the "Star of Life," a blue six point star, originally designed and governed by the NHTSB. Any unit displaying this star is said to be qualified to render its specific level of emergency care.

Related Topics:
Star of Life - NHTSB

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Under the laws of war, an ambulance marked by a red cross is not to be fired on and is to be permitted to carry out its duties in spite of the fighting. An ambulance may not mount weapons, although the Israeli EMS has produced a "tankbulance" that combines a Merkava main battle tank with ambulance features (see below).

Related Topics:
Laws of war - Red cross - Weapon - Israeli EMS - Tankbulance - Merkava

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