Before 9-1-1

HISTORY OF PARAMEDICINE

In the early 1900's, improvements in evacuation time by Ambulance decreased morbidity significantly. The practice of splinting closed femur fractures in the field by paramedics decreased mortality from 80% to 20%, and produced the first practical skill adopted by the paramedics of that era. WWII (1939-1944) recognized the first organized Ambulance effort by the medical community, and also the first effective use of Aeromedical transport.