Prehospital care in the 21st century is pretty amazing. But, where did it start? There have been physicians and hospitals for over 2000 years. However, you had to get yourself to the hospital and that led to many deaths and disfigurements.
Sometime around 1090 c.e. a group of crusading knights joined with monks to establish a hospital in Jerusalem. Dedicated to treating all people it is still in existence today as the St. Jerusalem Eye Hospital.
The Knights Hospitallers, as they were called, not only helped in the hospital, but they went out to aid the sick and injured and to protect all persons.
The st. John Ambulance is still alive and well today in many countries around the world.
This is me in 1979 doing first aid at a school event. The St. John Ambulance has a long and colourful history and there are numerous books written about it.
Toronto 1925
Today, the role of the St. John Ambulance has changed. Teaching and performing first aid at public events are their biggest endeavours.
However, we cannot forget the substantial role this organization played in setting the groundwork for our current prehospital paramedic services.