Notable Events
World War 1
28 July 1914 - 11 November 1918
World War 2
1 September 1939 - 2 September 1945
Eisenhower signs Federal Aid Highway Act
June 29, 1956
Swine Flu Pandemic
January 2009 - August 10, 2010
A Thousand Naked Strangers Published
January 5, 2016
Covid 19 Pandemic
January 20 2020 - May 5, 2023
American Sirens Published
September 20, 2022
Arkansas EMS History
Reubel & Company Provides Care
1915
Reubel & Company, with Robert Homer Bryant, M.D. provide care
Springdale moved EMS from Funeral Home to Fire Dept.
1967
AR Dept of Health Set Training Standards
1972
Arkansas Department of Health Sets first EMS training standards and reserves registry numbers 001-005 for department staff
Chales Eaves elected state president of AARA
June 1972
Newspaper clipping from June 14, 1972 - Arkansas Gazette
Arkansas EMT Association established
August 1978
First 911 Call to MEMS in Little Rock
August 1, 1988
Lusby EMS becomes first CAAS Accredited Agency in Arkansas
Dec 31, 2000
Normand, J. (2001, February 1). LUSBY'S RECEIVES FULL ACCREDITATION. Pine Bluff Commercial (AR). Available from NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.cals.idm.oclc.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=news/12422C8A391309C8.
Arkansas Truma System created
7/1/2009
Arkansas Trauma Communications Center established at MEMS
1/1/2011
MEMS becomes first in State to element Tiered 911 Response
June 6, 2017
Pilot Direct to Pediatric Behavorial Program begins in Little Rock.
October 2022
National EMS History
Rural volunteer service begins in Roanoke, VA
1928
Beginnings of Modern EMS
1950 - 1959
Beginning of modern EMS. Funeral homes begin patient care and operate nearly half of the nation’s ambulances
Star of Life Designed
1963
Freedom House Ambulance Service Established
1967
Freedom House Ambulance Service was the first emergency medical service in the United States to be staffed by paramedics with medical training beyond basic first aid.
Nations First 911 Call
2/16/1968
The nation’s first 911 call received by Haleyville, AL police station
National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) established
1970
The first recertification of a Nationally Registered EMT is processed.
1971
EMS Systems Act
11/16/1973
The EMS Systems Act established 300 EMS systems across the nation
Emergency Medical Services Week established
November 4, 1974
National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) founded
1975
First NREMT-Paramedic exam is given in Minneapolis, MN
1978
Formation of the National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO)
1980
Introduction of the Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) course
1983
Launch of the National EMT-Paramedic Registry
1987
Inauguration of the National EMS Memorial Service
1992
NHTSA launches EMS Agenda for the Future
1996
Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Program initiated
1998
Development of the National Incident Management System (NIMS)
2004
Development of National EMS Scope of Practice Model
2007
Arkansas Ambulance Services
Lusby’s Ambulance Service Starts
1927
Emerson’s Ambulance Service starts
6/7/1932
A-1 Ambulance Established
January 1, 1960
Pafford EMS Established
1967
Pafford Ambulance Service (Magnolia) was established
Russellville-Pope County Ambulance Service Formed
March 1, 1967
Pope County EMS Established
1971
Pope County assumes control of Russellve-Pope County Ambulance Service
EASI Starts Full-Time in Pine Bluff
1972
Lusby’s (now Emergency Ambulance Service, Inc. or EASI) began full-time operations in Pine Bluff
Hot Springs-Garland County Ambulance Service begin operations
July 1, 1973
Submitted by Robert King
Fair Field Bay EMS Established
1974
Cherokee Village Ambulance Service Starts
1975
Cherokee Village Ambulance Service (now the Spring River Paramedic Ambulance Service) began operations
Spring River Paramedic Ambulance Service Established
1/9/75
Fort Smith EMS established
12/27/1978
Jacksonville Fire begins EMS Service
1980
Central EMS established
march 1980
Central EMS (Fayetteville) was established
AR Children's adds Fixed Wing Operations
June 1983
(1983, June 25). Arkansas Gazette, p. 20. Available from NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.cals.idm.oclc.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A1123C1CC6D31C748%40EANX-15B5D50B57B28A73%402445511-15B5C15C1291BAB3%4019-15B5C15C1291BAB3%40.
St. Michael’s Air Life (LifeNet Air) starts
July 1983
St. Michael’s Air Life (now LifeNet Air) was established in Texarkana.
(1984, September 17). Arkansas Gazette, p. 12. Available from NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.cals.idm.oclc.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A1123C1CC6D31C748%40EANX-15B5D4CE04E89DE5%402445961-15B5882797673691%4011-15B5882797673691%40.
Vital Link EMS starts
8/23/1983
Baptist MedFlight Begins Operations
May 1984
Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services (MEMS) Starts Service
May 24, 1984
The Medic-Vac walkout started a domino effect, and with borrowed ambulances, employees volunteered their time and service to the metro area. This is considered to be the birth of MEMS in Little Rock
Monticello Ambulance Service Established
9/9/85
Columbia County Ambulance Service Established
3/10/1988
Air Evac starts Arkansas Operations
3/29/1988
Southern Ambulance Service Established
1/16/1990
Riverside EMS Established
2/15/1994
Airborne Air Ambulance starts Fixed Wing Service
10/8/1997
Med-Tech EMS Established
07/28/1999
NorthStar EMS Established
June 23, 2000
ProMed Ambulance Established
July 7, 2000
Southwest EMS Established
10/8/2002
White River EMS Established
April 29, 2003
LifeNet Begins Arkansas Ground Operations
10/1/2005
Southeast EMS Established
1/5/06
Pafford AirOne Begin Opperations in Pine Bluff
March 29, 2016
Pinnacle EMS Established
January 09, 2019
Begining Service in Yell County
Survival Flight begins First Ground Ambulance Service
November 15, 2019
Survival Flight has had a heavy presence in Arkansas in the air but added its first ground service in Arkansas.
Valor EMS Established
7/1/22
Russellville Fire provides EMS service to city.
August 2022