Ambulance and Fire Truck - History

Did you know that the first concept of an ambulance was started long before automobiles were invented? It’s true! During the first Crusade, a holy war in the 11th century, there were a lot of wounded soldiers.

Luckily for them, the Knights of St. John had received lessons in first-aid treatment from Greek and Arab doctors. They used their knowledge on the battlefields and helped to treat soldiers on both sides of the war. They would carry these wounded soldiers to nearby tents to further treat them. The Knights of St. John acted as modern day paramedics and ambulance drivers!

Did you know that the first known organized fire brigade dates back to 24 BC? The Roman Emperor, Augustus, instituted a corps of watchmen to keep the city in check for fires. If a fire did break out, the best way to fight it was with buckets of water being passed from hand to hand until it reached the fire. They also used axes to make openings for the heat to escape and to prevent the spread of the fire. Another tool used was long hooks attached to ropes. These were used to take down buildings that might be in the path of a fire in order to stop the fire from spreading. It wasn’t until the early 19th century that water pumped through hoses was used to fight fires!