John S. Haller

The beginnings of urban ambulance service in the United States and England

Urban ambulance systems emerged in the second half of the 19th century as an outgrowth of military experiences in both Europe and America. Developing first in cities such as Cleveland and New York, these systems quickly adapted to the urban environment, and modifications in ambulance construction and procedures soon followed. Since first-aid texts for urban ambulances were rare, military texts on battlefield medicine were adapted to emergency medicine in civilian accidents.