International Day of Medical Transporters Date in the current year: August 20, 2024

The roots of medical transportation can be traced back to ancient times, when horse-drawn chariots and carts were used to transport wounded soldiers to areas dedicated to battlefield surgery, as well as for forced transportation of patients with leprosy and psychiatric problems.

The first record of ambulances being used for emergency transport relates to the 1487 siege of Malaga that took place during the Reconquista. Queen Isabella of Castile arranged large bedded wagons that were used to transport wounded soldiers from the battlefield to makeshift tent hospitals. Although these early ambulances and military hospitals provided limited care, even an attempt at care was good for the morale.

For a long time, medical transport was limited to battlefields. The development of civilian ambulance services began in 1832, when a transport carriage was introduced to drive cholera patients to hospitals in London. Horse-drawn ambulances were phased out and firmly replaced by motor vehicles during World War I.

In the modern world, a wide range of vehicles can be used for medical transportation. They include vans, pickup trucks, cars, buses, trailers, motorcycles with a trailer or sidecar, all-terrain vehicles, helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and boats. Most of them are crewed by at least two people: one to drive and one to attend the patient.

Ambulance drivers are typically responsible for driving the ambulance to pickup locations and medical facilities quickly and safely, transporting medical personnel, assisting in loading and unloading patients, and assisting dispatch and medical personnel when needed. Ambulance drivers usually aren’t required to have medical training beyond basic first aid; their main value lies in their expert driving skills and clean driving record. However, some organizations prefer to employ licensed emergency medical technicians (EMTs) as ambulance drivers.

Ambulance drivers with no medical training who strictly drive vehicles and provide additional support to first responders are sometimes looked down upon, but their contribution shouldn’t be underestimated. Time is of essence in emergency situations, and it is ambulance drivers who ensure that patients are transported to the hospital as quickly and smoothly as possible. They are able to keep their head cool in high-stress situations and work well under pressure, which is by no means easy.

The exact origins of the International Day of Medical Transporters are unclear, but it may have something to do with the annual celebration of medical transporters that the Royal Army Medical Corps held during World War I. Be that as it may, there is no doubt that ambulance drivers, air ambulance pilots, and other professionals responsible for medical transportation deserve to be celebrated.