1797 - Napoleon's chief physician implements a pre-hospital system designed to triage and transport the injured from the field to aid stations.

1860's - Civilian ambulance services begin in Cincinnati and New York City.

1915 - First known air medical transport occurs during the retreat of the Serbian army from Albania.

1920's - First volunteer rescue squads organize in Roanoke, Virginia, and along the New Jersey coast.

1958 - Dr. Peter Safar demonstrates the efficicy of mouth to mouth ventilation.

1960 - Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is shown to be effective

1966 - The National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council publishes Accidental Death and Disability: The Neglected Disease of Modern Society.

1966 - Highway Safety Act of 1966 establishes the Emergency Medical Services Program in the Department of Transportation.

1972 - Department of Health, Education, and Welfare allocates 16 Million dollars to EMS demonstration programs in five states.

1973 - The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation appropriates 15 Million dollars to fund 44 EMS projects in 32 states and Puerto Rico.

1973 - The Emergency Medical Services System (EMSS) Act provides additional federal guidelines and funding for the development of regional EMS Systems; the law establishes 15 components of EMS Systems.

1981 - The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act consolidates EMS funding into state preventive health and health services block grants, and eliminates funding under the EMSS Act.

1984 - The EMS for Children program, under the Public Health Act provides funds for enhancing the EMS system to better serve pediatric patients.

1985 - National Research Council publishes Injury in America:  A Continuing Public Health Problem describing deficiencies in the progress of addressing the problem of accidental death & disabilities.

1988 - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration initiates the Statewide EMS Technical program based on the ten key components of EMS Systems.

1990 - The Trauma Care Systems & Development Act encourages development of inclusive trauma systems and provides funding to states for trauma system planning, implementation and evaluation.

1993 - The Institute of Medicine publishes EMS for Children which points out deficiencies in our health care system's ability to address the emergency medical needs of pediatric patients.

1995 - Congress does not re-authorize funding under the Trauma Care Systems and Development Act.