The star of life has become synonymous with emergency medical care around the globe. This symbol can be seen as a means of identification on ambulances, emergency medical equipment, patches or apparel worn by EMS providers and materials such as books, pamphlets, manuals, reports, and publications that either have a direct application to EMS or were generated by an EMS organization. It can also be found on road maps and highway signs indicating the location of or access to qualified emergency medical care.
Adapted from the personal Medical Identification Symbol of the American Medical Association, each bar on the star of life represents one of six EMS functions. Shown below is a picture of the star of life and it’s 6 meanings.
