The evolution of ambulances was often tied to the needs of wars. After basic treatment procedure on battlefield, it’s crucial to carry wounded soldiers to hospitals within limited time for further diagnosis and care for injury.
Throughout history ambulances have transformed from transport focus to predominantly emergency service. Nowadays, ambulances are built with armoured protection and different medical equipment which save more lives on the way to hospitals.
Flying Ambulance
Ambulances were brought to battlefield for evacuation of wounded soldiers until the improvement of medical supplies in the French Revolutionary wars.
The “flying ambulance,” invented by Dominique-Jean Larrey, was known as the first model of modern ambulance for transportation and emergency surgery. Not only did it take the wounded to hospitals, but it also brought surgeons to battlefield.
………….(Model of a ‘flying ambulance’, Europe, 1801-1850)
Can it Fly?
Unfortunately NOT. It was designed as house-carriage that could take four to six casualties lying down.
Larrey actually named after the speed which wounded soldiers could be able to transport from the battlefield to hospitals.
Father of the modern ambulance – Dominique-Jean Larrey (1766-1842)
As chief surgeon under Napoleon, Larrey had dedicated to improve medical treatment of wounded soldiers on battlefield. They were often abandoned or carried with slow-moving wagons, severely increasing casualties during the wars. Larrey designed a lighter ambulance carriage, named “flying ambulance,” to carry wounded with a battalion of trained drivers and stretcher-bearers.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Treatment on Rails
Due to the advancement of weapons used in the wars, huge amounts of injured soldiers showed the glaring need to improve the evacuation and emergency care. The fastest way for doing this was by train.
After industrialization, the railway was fully exploited to carry wounded soldiers to field hospitals in the First World War.
(Ambulance train for use of the american armies in France)
Hospital on wheels
Ambulance was first built as mobile hospital for emergency operations behind battlefield or en route to field hospitals. This operating theatre was used by the Red Cross Society during the First World War.
A variety of medical equipments was inside the truck, including operational table, surgical instruments, and stores of water and medicine.
(Model of a Red Cross mobile operating theatre, England, 1914-1968)
Continue exploring the exhibition…
Using objects from the Science Museum, this exhibition invites you to follow us on a wounded soldier’s 4 stage treatment journey focusing on medical innovations that still impact us today.
Stop the blood!
Historically, half of all soldiers killed in action die from blood loss, 80% of which die within the first hour… Read More
Call of Duty!
Many troops lost their lives throughout the war, not just from injuries but also from other infections and diseases… Read more
Progress Not Perfection
Recovery aims to help the patient to move on with their life and to restore their health and quality of life…
In a Heart Beat: War as a Catalyst for Innovation
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