Rescue Squad: A History of Volunteer Ambulance Service

RESCUE SQUAD is a short, 7,000-word essay that details the birth and development of volunteer ambulance services in the United States. It begins with the earliest squad, formed in 1928 by Julian S. Wise, a pioneer in the field. It traces the haphazard nature of ambulance service, particularly in rural areas, which persisted through the 1960s. That era saw the beginning of emergency medical systems, the advent of emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and many other improvements. Volunteers played an important part in bringing emergency care to patients in the field, and continue to do so. This essay, by a longtime volunteer EMT, is thoroughly researched and provides a fascinating glimpse of the evolution of this critical part of our medical system.