The Blue "Star of Life"

The symbol used by Emergency Medical Technicians is encouraged 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.

  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 Trademarks in the name of the National Highway and 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 functions of the EMS. They are:

Detection

Reporting

Response

On Scene Care

Care in Transit

Transfer to Definitive Care

  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.

  Asclepius was usually shown in a standing position, dressed in a long cloak, 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 want of the Greek deity, Hermes, messenger of the gods.  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. 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 certifies 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:

    As a means of identification for medical equipment and supplies for installation and use in the Emergency Medical Care Vehicle-Ambulance.

  To point to the location of qualified medical care services and access to such facilities. For use on shoulder patches worn only by personnel who have satisfactorily completed DOT training courses or approved equivalents, and for person who by title and function administer, directly supervise, or participate in all or part of National, State, or community EMS programs.

  On EMS personnel items- badges, plaques, buckles, etc.

  Books, pamphlets, manuals, reports or other printed material having direct EMS application.

  The "Star of Life" symbol may be worn by administrative personnel, project directors and staff, councils and advisory groups. If shoulder patches are won, they should be plain blue "Star of Life" on a while 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:

  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.

  The shoulder patches and other EMS patches may by 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

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