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The Blue "Star
Of Life"
The Emergency Medical Care Symbol
Just as pharmacists have the mortar and pestle and doctors have the
caduceus, Emergency Medical Technicians have a symbol, its use is
encouraged both 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 Trade-marks in the name of the National Highway 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
function of the EMS, as illustrated below:
The capitol letter "R" enclosed in the circle on the right represents the
fact that the symbol is a "registered" certification. 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 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 wand of
the Greek deity, Hermes, messenger of the gods.
The Bible, in Numbers 21:9, makes reference to a serpent on a staff: "And
Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about,
that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he
lived.
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 certify 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:
1.
As a means of identification for medical equipment and supplies for
installation and use in the Emergency Medical Care Vehicle-Ambulance.
2.
To point to the location of qualified medical care services and access to
such facilities.
3.
For use on shoulder patches worn only by personnel who have satisfactorily
completed DOT training courses or approved equivalents, and for persons
who by title and function administer, directly supervise, or participate
in all or part of National, State, or community EMS programs.
4.
On EMS personnel items - badges, plaques, buckles, etc.
5.
Books, pamphlets, manuals, reports or other printed material having direct
EMS application.
6.
The "Star of Life" symbol may be worn by administrative personnel, project
directors and staff, councils and advisory groups. If shoulder patches are
worn, they should be plain blue "Star of Life" on a white 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:
a)
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.
b)
The shoulder patches and other EMS patches may be displayed on uniform
pockets and the symbol can also be placed on collars and headgear.
Each of the six
"points" of the star represents an aspect of the EMS System. They are:
 Detection
Reporting
Response
On Scene
Care
Care In
Transit
Transfer
to Definitive Care
The
staff on the star represents Medicine and Healing.
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