The star of life: a universal symbol of Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

Our national EMS responders treat 25 to 30 million patients each year and the workforce encompasses four levels of trained medical professionals: Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) and Paramedic.

One symbol that’s universally associated with EMS in the U.S. and around the world is the star of life. This symbol is used to indicate where emergency medical care can be found and is typically seen on ambulances, emergency medical equipment, uniforms worn by EMS personnel, medical textbooks and medications.

The star of life is a blue, six-pointed star with a white border. At its center, the star usually features a staff with a serpent wrapped around it. This staff is linked with Asclepius, an ancient Greek deity associated with medicine and healing. The Rod of Asclepius is a common symbol for the medical profession across the globe.

The six points of the star represent the six main stages of emergency medical care performed by EMS providers. These are:

• Detection
• Reporting
• Response
• On-scene care
• Care in transit
• Transfer to definitive care

The next time you see an EMS worker wearing the distinctive star of life badge, make sure to thank them for their commitment to emergency medical care. To learn more about National EMS Week in 2019 and the critical work of EMRs, EMTs, AEMTs and paramedics across the country, visit ems.gov.