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In the 1960's pre-hospital care generally was limited to a "scoop and run" operation. Additionally, ambulances transported patients back to the hospitals in which they were based, regardless of whether another hospital was closer or better equipped to handle that specific patient�s medical condition. This often left whole areas of a community without ambulance coverage. Furthermore, ambulances would be tied up in performing transfers, and none would be available for emergencies.
There was a lack of uniform and adequate federal, state, and local laws and standards concerning EMS (only six states had written standards). Both the ambulance and equipment carried onboard (if any at all) were of poor quality and design. The vehicle offered little room for patient, attendant or equipment. Radio communications between emergency services and hospital was seriously lacking. Only 5% of the nation's ambulances had radio contact with a hospital.
Personnel were sadly lacking training for emergency care of patients. Only about 50% of the nation's EMS personnel had even American Red Cross certificates and many had no training at all. Hospital themselves were staffing emergency room with part-time physicians, who may or may not have training or experience in emergency care or trauma.
In 1974 the first aid boxes weighed about 100 lbs. and were similar to large tackle boxes. They looked like the old tube caddies carried by the TV repairmen. Early radio communications were also very unreliable.
Today EMS equipment is specially designed to be portable and lightweight. The technology is accurate and sophisticated. Most equipment is compact, which helps when carrying down an embankment to a crash scene or into a wooded area some distance from the nearest highway.
Ambulances can be high-tech, mobile emergency rooms or specially equipped vans used for non-emergency transport. There is no longer one type of ambulance. Services change and adapt to various needs.
Computers, cell phones, and fax machines have also revolutionized EMS care. For example, an EMT can do a comprehensive EKG at the scene and the computer inside the LifePak tells them what kind of arrhythmia they may be dealing with and even gives suggestions for treatments. These reports are transmitted by fax from the scene to the emergency department.
Not only has computer technology helped save patients lives, it has also made paperwork muck easier. Reports, statistics, medical records, log sheets are all easier because of computer technology. Soon Palm-Pilot technology could eliminate hand written reports.
EMS in the United States has enjoyed many successes. Not only did EMS systems grow, EMS became a career and volunteer activity for hundreds of thousands of talented, committed and dedicated individuals. Emergency medical care is available to virtually every citizen in the country by simply dialing 911 from ant telephone. This was an extraordinary accomplishment in a relative short period of time.
The greatest accomplishment of EMS, however, is the fact that more lives are being saved. EMS providers treat nearly 20 million patients a year in the United States. Many of these have complicated medical or traumatic conditions that require considerable knowledge, skill and judgment. Some are critically injured and the proper care can literally make the difference between life and death. Today EMS is accepted as one of the "Big Three" public safety responders: Police, Fire and EMS, and for its lifesaving capability.
Reproduced from http://ci.muscatine.ia.us/fire/emshist.htm | 
