Why Is An Ambulance Called An Ambulance
Ambulances have now become one of the major necessities. By increasing population the number of health emergencies increases too and for that ambulance is much needed help. You must be aware of how it works but, do you know why an ambulance is called an ambulance? Who invented it? Where did it begin from? Why is it written inverted? Here in this article you will get all the details that you need to know about ambulance services. From its antecedent time to the modern face, you will have complete information about this great invention.
The history of ambulances comes from Europe during the 10th and 11th century. Earlier bullock carts and horse carts were used to carry the wounded people during any war or pilgrimage. But, the first noted history of ambulances used for medical emergencies is in the year 1487 which was used by Queen Isabella of Spain. The Spanish army used it during the siege of Malanga in 1487 itself.
The word ‘ambulance’ means ‘to transport people by vehicle for the purpose of undertaking medical treatment’. The term ‘ambulance’ is derived from the Latin 'ambulatio' or 'ambulare', meaning ‘to go everywhere’, and is therefore aptly descriptive of a vehicle whose job is to move people from point to point thus generally called "a moving hospital". The role of an ambulance has also evolved alongside developments in medical science and transport.
Who Invented The Ambulance:
However, the credit for the invention of dedicated peripatetic patient carrying services goes to the chief physician of Napoleon Bonapart, Dominique Jean Larrey. He created it during the battle of Spires which was fought between French and Prussians during 1793. It used to be two or four-wheeled wagons which carried the wounded soldiers on the battlefield. It took a drastic change during the unfortunate situation of world wars.
Then onwards the technology skyrocketed and ambulances were not untouched by it. From bullock carts to now well-equipped multi-facility modern vehicles, ambulances have travelled a long distance.
Why Ambulances Are White In Color?
Ambulances carry patients who are in medical emergency and sometimes life-threatening emergencies therefore they always should get priority while rushing on the roads. Specific colors are meant for safety reasons which allow people to recognize an ambulance easily from a longer distance. Considering this aspect, white color reflects most under the sun and in light and this is the reason why ambulances are white in color.
Many cities have laws too for coloring the ambulance only in bright colors such as white and yellow. On the whole the color decided for ambulances are focused around safety advantages and easy recognition.
Why Ambulance Is Written In Laterally Inverted?
This aspect too resolves around the safety concerns and easy identification. It is known fact that the mirror used in vehicles are convex mirror that shows inverted or reversed images of the object. While on the roads when an ambulance reflect in the side mirrors of other vehicles then it shows a clear and right image so that other vehicles could give way to the ambulance. Therefore writing Ambulance in inverted or reversed letters give a signal to other vehicles to make way for it.
Why Are Ambulance Lights Red and Blue?
Red on a wider scale is known as the color of emergency. Be it police vehicles, street lights, fire trucks or ambulances, red is used everywhere to denote emergency. Talking about the scientific reason behind using red lights on ambulance is that the red color has the highest wavelength on the spectrum, making it visible from a long distance and even in fog. While carrying patients or rushing for any emergency situation, the specific lights are used to convey the situation up to other passers by and vehicle drivers so that they could make way for these specific vehicles.
Although ambulances have red lights often but sometimes they use blue siren lights too. Blue and red lights are used to clear the way in hazardous situations or emergencies.
Saving lives is great and moral deed and ambulances have been doing it from ages. From very basic and limited formations to modern highly technologically sound vehicles, ambulances have come through a long way, and are still growing with new inventions in technical and medical sciences. It is very easy to identify an ambulance in the streets but now you know exactly why an ambulance is called an ambulance.
