Before there was an organized EMS system in the United States, patient care rarely began before the patient arrived at the hospital. Ambulances were frequently run by the local funeral home. At the time attendants had little, if any, training.

Advances in the evacuation and care of injured soldiers during World War II, as well as the Korean, and Vietnam conflicts resulted in significant changes in how patients were cared for in the field. These changes helped shape the current EMS system.

During the 1960s, the Federal Government and The American Heart Association made sweeping changes in EMS. Basic EMT training programs resulted from the National Highway Safety Act, and the Heart Association began teaching CPR courses to rescuers and the public. Since then EMS has continued to evolve into a sophisticated system of delivering prompt, competent pre-hospital care. The end result has been countless lives saved, and disabilities prevented.

For More Information

Please call us at 203-739-7554 if you have questions about EMS Training at Danbury Hospital. For more information about classes, please visit the Danbury Hospital Emergency Training Resources web site.