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9-1-1 is the three digit telephone number that has been designated as the Universal Emergency Number
for public use throughout the United States to request emergency assistance. It is intended as a nationwide telephone number
giving the public direct access to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) which will be responsible for taking the appropriate
action.
- In the United States, the first catalyst for a nationwide emergency telephone number gained momentum
in 1957 when the National Association of Fire Chiefs recommended use of a single number for reporting fires nationwide.
- In 1967, the President's Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice recommended that
a single number should be established nationwide for reporting emergency situations. The use of different telephone numbers
for each type of emergency was determined to be contrary to the purpose of a single, universal number. Other Federal Government
Agencies and various governmental officials also supported and encouraged the recommendation. As a result of the immense interest
in this issue, the President's Commission on Civil Disorders turned to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a solution.
- In November of 1967, the FCC met with the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) to find
a means of establishing a universal emergency number that could be implemented quickly. In 1968, AT&T announced that it
would establish the digits 9-1-1 (nine-one-one) as the emergency code throughout the United States.
- The code 9-1-1 was chosen because it best fit the needs of all parties involved. First, and most important,
it meets public requirements because it is brief, easily remembered, and can be dialed quickly. Second, because it is a unique
number, never having been authorized as an office code, area code, or service code, it best meets the long range numbering
plans and switching configurations of the telephone industry.
- Congress backed AT&T's proposal and passed legislation allowing use of only the numbers 9-1-1
when creating a single emergency calling service, thereby making 9-1-1 a standard emergency number nationwide. A Bell System
policy was established to absorb the cost of central office modifications and any additions necessary to accommodate the 9-1-1
code as part of the general rate base. The E9-1-1 subscriber is responsible for paying network trunking costs according to
tariffed rates, and for purchasing answering equipment from the vendor of their choice.
- On February 16, 1968, Senator Rankin Fite completed the first 9-1-1 call to be made in the United
States in Halleyville, Alabama. The serving telephone company was Alabama Telephone Company, which later became Contel Corp.
This 9-1-1 system is still in operation today. On February 22, 1968, Nome, Alaska implemented 9-1-1 service.
- In March of 1973, the White House's Office of Telecommunications, issued a national policy statement
which recognized the benefits of 9-1-1, encouraged the nationwide adoption of 9-1-1, and provided for the establishment of
a Federal Information Center to assist units of government in planning and implementation. The intense interest in the concept
of 9-1-1 can be attributed primarily to the recognition of characteristics of modern society, i.e., increased incidences of
crimes, accidents, and medical emergencies, inadequacy of existing emergency reporting methods, and the continued growth and
mobility of the population.
- In the early 1970s, AT&T began the development of sophisticated features for the 9-1-1 with a
pilot program in Alameda County, California. The feature was selective call routing. This pilot program supported the theory
behind the Executive Office of Telecommunication's Policy. By the end of 1976, 9-1-1 was serving about 17% of the population
of the United States. In 1979, approximately 26% of the population of the United States had 9-1-1 service, and nine states
had enacted 9-1-1 legislation. At this time, 9-1-1 service was growing at the rate of 70 new systems per year.
- By the year 1987, those figures had grown to indicate that 50% of the US population had access to
9-1-1 emergency service numbers.
- In addition, Canada recognized the advantages of a single emergency number and chose to adopt 9-1-1
rather than use a different means of emergency reporting service, thus unifying the concept and giving 9-1-1 international
stature.
- As we come to the close of the 20th century, nearly 85% of the population of the United States is
covered by some type of 9-1-1. Ninety-five percent of that coverage is Enhanced 9-1-1. Approximately 50% of the geographical
area is covered by some type of 9-1-1 with the same percentage being Enhanced 9-1-1.
Information for this article was obtained from the National Emergency Number Association
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The Blue "Star of Life" -- The Emergency Medical Care Symbol
by
Arline Zatz
Just as a pharmacists have the mortar and pestle and doctors have the caduceus, Emergency
Medical Technicians have a symbol, its use is encouraged both by the American Medical Association and the Advisory Council
within the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. The symbol applies to all emergency medical goods and services which
are funded under the DOT/EMS program.
We see the "Star of Life" constantly, whether it be on ambulances or uniforms. But, how
many realize what this symbol represents and how it was born? Not too many, judging from the random survey I conducted after
having realized I had no idea myself.
Designed by Leo R. Schwartz, Chief of the EMS Branch, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA), the "Star of Life" was created after the American National Red Cross complained in 1973 that they objected to the
common use of an Omaha orange cross on a square background of reflectorized white which clearly imitated the Red Cross symbol.
NHTSA investigated and felt the complaint was justified.
The newly designed, six barred cross, was adapted from the Medical Identification Symbol
of the American Medical Association and was registered as a certification mark on February 1, 1977 with the Commissioner of
Patents and Trade-marks in the name of the National Highway Traffic Safety and Administration. The trademark will remain in
effect for twenty years from this date.
Each of the bars of the blue "Star of Life" represents the six system function of the EMS,
as illustrated below: The capitol letter "R" enclosed in the circle on the right represents the fact that the symbol is a
"registered" certification.
The snake and staff in the center of the symbol portray the staff Asclepius who, according
to Greek mythology, was the son of Apollo (god of light, truth and prophecy). Supposedly Asclepius learned the art of healing
from the centaur Cheron; but Zeus - king of the gods, was fearful that because of the Asclepius knowledge, all men might be
rendered immortal. Rather than have this occur, Zeus slew Asclepius with a thunderbolt. Later, Asclepius was worshipped as
a god and people slept in his temples, as it was rumored that he effected cures of prescribed remedies to the sick during
their dreams.Eventually, Zues restored Asclepius to life, making him a god.
Asclepius was usually shown in a standing position, dressed in a long cloat, holding a staff
with a serpent coiled around it. The staff has since come to represent medicine's only symbol. In the Caduceus, used by physicians
and the Military Medical Corp., the staff is winged and has two serpents intertwined. Even though this does not hold any medical
relevance in origin, it represents the magic wand of the Greek deity, Hermes, messenger of the gods.
The staff with the single serpent is the symbol for Medicine and Health and the winged staff
is the symbol for peace. The Staff with the single serpent represents the time when Asclepius had a very difficult patient
that he could not cure, so he consulted a snake for advice and the patient survived. The snake had coiled around Asclepius's
staff in order to be head to head with him as an equal when talking. The Winged staff came about when Mercury saw two serpents
fighting,and unable to stop them any other way placed his staff between them causing them to coil up his winged staff.
The Bible, in Numbers 21:9, makes reference to a serpent on a staff: "Moses accordingly
made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent,
he recovered.
Who may use the "Star of Life" symbol? NHTSA has exclusive rights to monitor its use throughout
the United States. Its use on emergency medical vehicles certifies that such vehicles meet the U.S. Department of Transportation
standards and certify that the emergency medical care personnel who use it have been trained to meet these standards. Its
use on road maps and highway signs indicates the location or access to qualified emergency care services. No other use of
the symbol is allowed, except as listed below:
States and Federal agencies which have emergency medical services involvement are authorized
to permit use of the "Star of Life" symbol summarized as follows:
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As a means of identification for medical equipment and supplies for installation and use
in the Emergency Medical Care Vehicle-Ambulance.
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To point to the location of qualified medical care services and access to such facilities.
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For use on shoulder patches worn only by personnel who have satisfactorily completed DOT
training courses or approved equivalents, and for persons who by title and function administer, directly supervise, or participate
in all or part of National, State, or community EMS programs.
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On EMS personnel items - badges, plaques, buckles, etc.
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Books, pamphlets, manuals, reports or other printed material having direct EMS application.
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The "Star of Life" symbol may be worn by administrative personnel, project directors and
staff, councils and advisory groups. If shoulder patches are worn, they should be plain blue "Star of Life" on a white square
or round background. The function, identifying letters or words should be printed on bars and attached across the bottom separately.
The edges of the basic patch and functional bars are to be embroidered.
Special function identification and physical characteristics must be adhered to when
applying the "Star of Life" to personal items, as follows:
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Administrative and dispatcher personnel must use a silver colored edge, and the staff
of Asclepius should be with a silver colored serpent. These items do not need a white background.
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The shoulder patches and other EMS patches may be displayed on uniform pockets and the
symbol can also be placed on collars and headgear.
This article was taken from Rescue-EMS Magazine, July-August 1992
THE STAR OF LIFE
Each of the six "points" of the star represents an aspect of the EMS System. They are:
- Detection
- Reporting
- Response
- On Scene Care
- Care in Transit
- Transfer to Definitive Care
The staff on the star represents Medicine and Healing.
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