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 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.

The first civilian ambulance is said to have been set up in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, in September 1892, following a fall at the Brisbane Exhibition on August 7, 1892, which was witnessed by Seymour Warrian who went on to become the founder of the City Ambulance Transport Brigade. Today the Queensland Ambulance Service has become one of the largest ambulance services in the world. Alexander Graham Bell is also said to have played a part in spreading the news of this civilian ambulance service around the world as he travelled promoting his invention the telephone.

However, an ambulance can be any vehicle, including a bus, helicopter, or even a hospital ship. Ambulances models are known as Type One (Box type without entry into front cab, Type Two (Van sytle), and Type Three (Box with walk thru to cab area). Civilian ambulances use the symbal called 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.

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 Israelis have produced a "tankbulance" that combines a Merkava main battle tank with ambulance features.