What does the red cross emblem mean? Russian Red Cross. The RCMP movement maintains political, religious and ideological neutrality
The adoption of a single distinctive sign that would signify the legal protection of the medical services of the armed forces, volunteers providing assistance to the wounded, and victims of armed conflicts was one of the primary tasks facing the founders of the Movement.
Red Cross
At a diplomatic conference in 1864, when the First Geneva Convention was adopted, a special international distinctive sign of army sanitary units was established, providing legal protection on the battlefield - the Red Cross on a white background.
This symbol was chosen for several reasons:
Firstly, because from time immemorial the white flag was considered a symbol of the intention to negotiate or surrender; it was forbidden to shoot anyone who raised a white flag.
Secondly, with the addition of the Red Cross, its importance increased even more, making it possible to demand respect for the wounded and for those who come to their aid.
Thirdly, this sign was an inversion of the Swiss flag, which emphasized that this idea belonged specifically to the Swiss.
Fourthly, this sign was easy to make and easily recognized from a distance.
Red Crescent
However, during Russian-Turkish war(1876-1878) The Ottoman Empire announced that it would henceforth use the image of the Red Crescent on its sanitary convoys, while at the same time respecting the enemy's sanitary convoys, designated by the Red Cross. The Turks explained this fact by saying that the Red Cross sign was an insult to Muslim soldiers. It was only at a diplomatic conference in 1929 that agreement was given to use the Red Crescent emblem for Turkey and Egypt.
Currently, many countries use the Red Cross or Red Crescent - and both emblems are equivalent. The emblem of the Red Cross and Red Crescent is used as a protective and distinctive sign.
The emblem is used as a protective sign during armed conflicts. It should inspire respect and deter aggressive actions. In this case, the emblem must be large in size so that it can be clearly distinguished from afar. No additions are allowed when depicting the symbols of the Red Cross, Red Crescent, or on a white background.
During armed conflict The emblem can be used as a protective sign by:
Military medical services;
Recognized National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies authorized by their governments to provide assistance to military medical services;
Civilian medical institutions authorized by the government;
Other voluntary aid societies authorized by the government to carry out their activities and operating under the same conditions as national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies.
The use of the Red Cross/Red Crescent emblem as a distinctive sign is intended to show, mainly in times of peace, that the persons and objects designated by it are related to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. In peacetime, the emblem should be smaller.
Red Crystal
The International Movement had two generally recognized emblems - the Red Cross and the Red Crescent. The National Society of Israel refused to use these symbols, considering them religious, and used the Red Shield of David. Therefore, in 2005, as a neutral symbol in relation to religions and national affiliations, they decided to introduce another emblem - the Red Crystal (a red square on a white background). This emblem is used along with the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
The adoption of this symbol allowed Israel to enter the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and Israeli specialists can now provide medical and humanitarian assistance around the world, using the Red Crystal emblem and under the protection of international laws.
The Red Crystal can be used, if they want or deem it necessary, by any states that have acceded to the III Additional Protocol of the Geneva Conventions, having notified the world community of this intention.
Emblem Functions:
The rules for the use of emblems are enshrined in the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, as well as in the national legislation of most countries.
- Protective: a sign which, during an armed conflict, serves as a visual symbol of the protection afforded (in accordance with international law) to the medical services, equipment and buildings of medical facilities of the armed forces and certain humanitarian organizations working alongside the military to relieve the suffering of the wounded, prisoners and civilians, victims of the conflict.
- Identification: serve as an identification mark of membership in the Red Cross and Red Crescent organization
Misuse and Abuse of Emblems:
Imitation, i.e. use of a sign that, due to its shape and/or color, can be confused with one of the emblems.
Improper use means any use of the distinctive emblem not provided for by IHL: for example, by unauthorized persons or organizations (commercial enterprises, pharmacies, doctors in private practice, non-governmental organizations, etc.) or for purposes not in accordance with the fundamental principles of the Movement.
Treacherous Use– the use of a distinctive emblem during an armed conflict in order to protect combatants and other participants in hostilities and military equipment and to mislead the enemy. Perfidious use of the emblem resulting in death or serious injury is considered a war crime.
A conversation about the Red Cross and Red Crescent - more precisely, about the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement - is most appropriate to start with June 24, 1859, when the battle took place near Solferino, a village in Lombardy. To say that the battle was brutal is to say nothing: several thousand wounded were thrown onto the battlefield to die in agony!
A witness to these terrible events was, among others, the Swiss Jean-Henri Dunant. Shocked, he decided that he had to do something! If the state does not take care of soldiers who do not spare themselves at the behest of politicians, then someone else must do this - there must be an organization that will take care of those injured during wars, without making distinctions by citizenship or nationality, nor by religion - which will help people only because they need help!
And so J.A. Dunant writes a book where he not only talks about the nightmares of the Battle of Solferino, but also gives recommendations on what can be done to prevent this from happening again: it is necessary to create national organizations that will help the victims, and an international committee to coordinate their actions.
And the voice of J.A. Dunant was heard! Geneva lawyer G. Moynier organized the International Committee for Relief of the Wounded (also known as the Committee of Five), and this committee convened a conference in Geneva in 1863. There were only 36 participants - but the resolutions of this conference also drew attention to the problem. The second conference took place on August 8, 1864, it was then that the convention “For the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in the Armies of Warring Countries,” known as the Geneva Convention, was adopted, and an agreement was reached on an international organization whose tasks would include helping people affected by military conflicts. At the same time, the emblem of this society was established - it was supposed to become a kind of “safe conduct” for its representatives in areas where the war was going on.
Since the birth of the new organization took place in Switzerland, its emblem was created “in the image and likeness” of the flag of this state: the Swiss flag, as is known, is a white cross on red, but the sign of the organization was its “reverse” version - a red cross on white. The organization itself, based on its emblem, received the following name: “International Committee of the Red Cross.” True, the Ottoman Empire saw a different meaning in such a sign, associating the cross with hated Christianity, and replaced the cross with a Muslim symbol, namely the red crescent. Later - in 1929 - the red crescent was approved as another official emblem (in 2005 there was a proposal to introduce a third one - the red Star of David - but this proposal did not receive support). True, already in the 21st century - when any mention of religion in general and Christianity in particular - causes a storm of irrational hatred - a third emblem was introduced - a red crystal, in the form of a rhombus.
It should be noted that such an emblem - a combination of symbols of different religions - is perfectly consistent with the principles of this organization, proclaimed at the International Conference in 1965:
-humanity
-impartiality
-neutrality
-independence
-voluntariness
-unity
- versatility.
This means that the organization is international, all national societies included in it have equal responsibilities and rights and assist each other, it does not take any side in military conflicts and provides assistance to absolutely everyone in need, making no distinction either by nationality or race, religion, or any other characteristics, does not seek to obtain benefits.
Since 1986, this organization has been called the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Having started with helping the wounded in the war, over time it expanded its activities. This included helping victims of natural and man-made disasters, training nurses, helping hospitals, collecting donated blood, helping the disabled, and even “educational education” for the population: how to properly care for children, how to provide first aid, etc. As you can see, the activities of the Red Cross and Red Crescent are quite extensive. The organization has 190 National Societies and more than 100 million volunteers.
The image of a bowl with a snake, which adorns the signs of pharmacies and other medical institutions, is familiar from childhood. Adults answer the question “What does this mean?” They like to answer that “this is how snake venom is collected, from which medicine is then made.” The version is widespread, although somewhat naive. You might think that all medicines are made only from poison. In fact, the entire pharmaceutical industry around the world uses only a few hundred grams of this substance per year. With the same success, the symbol of medicine could be, for example, a bee, or deer antlers, or something even more exotic.
Despite the ubiquity of this symbol, called the "Hippocratic Cup", its exact origin and interpretation are still unknown. The author of the version about the poison is the famous researcher Zabludovsky. In his opinion, this image appeared at the turn of our era. According to other researchers, in particular Academician Pavlovsky, this image began to be used as a symbol of medicine only in the 16th century with the light hand of the famous Paracelsus.
However, both the cup and the snake, albeit separately, were used as various symbols back in 800 - 600. BC e., including as attributes of the ancient Greek goddesses of health Hygeia (from whose name the word “hygiene” came) and Saluta.
The snake has always symbolized wisdom, knowledge, longevity and eternal youth - the annual change of skin symbolized rejuvenation.
However, there is an opposite opinion that the basis of “snake symbolism” in medicine is a person’s fear of the snake, the desire to appease the formidable “goddess of death” or to scare off illness using the formidable appearance of the snake.
The use of the bowl as a symbol of healing is associated with the healing properties of water and the tradition of preparing medicinal potions in ritual bowls.
However, even in much more distant times, a bowl with a snake was used in the symbolism of Ancient Egypt. The ancient Egyptian deity Knef or Kematef, a self-created creator who formed the world from chaos, was depicted in the form of a snake. The bowl in this image symbolized a vessel containing primordial matter - the physical basis of everything. Knef in the form of a snake bends over the bowl with the First Mother and spiritualizes it with his breath, awakening it to life. Agree, it’s very beautiful and symbolic, although it’s a little far from medicine. By the way, it is known that Paracelsus, who first proposed this combination as a medical symbol, was an alchemist and mystic well acquainted with ancient esoteric knowledge. He certainly knew the exact meaning of this image.
During the time of Peter I, a bowl with a snake or two snakes was introduced as a sign of medical service in the army. In 1924, the Hippocratic Cup was approved as a symbol of military medicine by the Revolutionary Military Council and still remains the emblem of military medical units in Russia. And the most common use of this symbol is in pharmaceutical activities. It was decorated with the Hippocratic cup and badges issued in the USSR to graduates of medical universities.
One of the modern historians of medicine who turned to the analysis of the symbolism of a cup entwined with a snake, Borodulin, said this: “We are inclined to consider this emblem as a reminder to the doctor of the need to be wise, and to draw wisdom from the cup of knowledge of nature.”
By the way, the official symbol of medicine is not the Hippocratic cup, but a snake entwining the staff of the ancient Greek god of healing, Asclepius. This image was adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) of the United Nations (UN) at its First World Assembly in Geneva in 1948.
In conclusion to the history of the Hippocratic Cup, it remains to add that this symbol is popularly interpreted as “The mother-in-law eats ice cream.”
By the way…
The Red Cross is not a symbol of medicine
Another common symbol for “everything medical” is the red cross. Surprisingly, in most cases this emblem is used illegally.
History of the Red Cross 
The red cross became a symbol in the 19th century. During the Franco-Austrian War, the Swiss Henry Dunant was so impressed by what he saw on the battlefields that he wrote an article asking whether it was possible to create a charitable organization to help the wounded during armed conflicts. Dunant's publication attracted the attention of the Geneva Benevolent Society, which created a committee of 5 people to put these ideas into practice. Later this committee received the name of the International Committee of the Red Cross - ICRC.
The first meeting of the ICRC took place in 1873 in Switzerland, and in tribute to the country, which historically maintained neutrality towards the warring parties and organized the first Geneva Conference, the national flag of Switzerland was adopted as the basis for the ICRC emblem, but with the colors replaced, that is, the red cross on a white background. The four parts of this cross symbolize the four virtues: moderation, prudence, justice and courage.
During the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878), the Ottoman Empire allowed the activities of the Red Cross on its territory, however, obliging the ICRC to change its symbolism to the Red Crescent.
Thus, this emblem was originally created to represent the medical services of the armed forces and provide protection for the sick and wounded, as a symbol of impartial humanitarian assistance provided to all who suffer. It is designed to protect doctors, hospitals, the wounded and sick during military conflicts. This is a completely special symbolism, an “emergency” image to which the eye cannot be “accustomed.”
According to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the emblem of the Red Cross is assigned to humanitarian and medical transports, buildings, convoys and missions in order to protect them from attacks by conflicting parties. Only the medical service of the army of a state party to the Geneva Conventions has the right to use it. These emblems are depicted on the roofs and sides of buildings, hoods and doors of military vehicles, tents and other objects where wounded and sick soldiers, military doctors, and injured civilians are located.
In peacetime, the emblem is used as a distinctive sign by national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, as well as by ambulances and ambulance stations, provided that first aid stations provide treatment exclusively free of charge.
This emblem has another feature that distinguishes it from ordinary trademarks or brands. You cannot purchase a license to use it even for the most noble purposes. This is a symbol of impartiality medical care to all those who suffer, regardless of nationality, race and religion.
By joining the Geneva Conventions, the state undertakes an obligation not only to promote the development of the national Red Cross and Red Crescent Society, but also to protect its symbols at the legislative level. According to the Red Cross Society, incorrect use of this symbol can lead to damage and discrediting of the existing image, confusion leading to serious consequences. Therefore, the authorities of many countries, on the recommendation of the ICRC, have adopted laws restricting the use of the official ICRC emblem. The official emblem of this organization should be used exclusively as a symbol of salvation during hostilities and emergencies, so that the emblem does not become familiar or become something commonplace.
The Red Cross is the emblem of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRC). The ICRC is an international humanitarian organization working throughout the world today. It provides humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflict and armed violence, and raises awareness of laws that protect victims of war. The Red Cross Movement considers its main goal to be “To help all those who suffer without any adverse distinction, thereby promoting peace on Earth” and unites more than 100 million volunteers (volunteers) around the world.
The International Red Cross Society was founded by Swiss entrepreneur and public figure Henri Dunant in 1863 in Switzerland. After the Battle of Solferino on June 24, 1859, when more than 40 thousand soldiers died in the battle, Henri Dunant was shocked by the almost complete lack of medical care on the battlefield. He decided to devote himself to caring for wounded soldiers.
In 1884, the first international Conference of the International Committee of the Red Cross took place. At this conference, the society's emblem was adopted - a red cross on a white background. The color design of the organization's logo is a reverse color scheme national flag Switzerland out of respect for the birthplace of the Movement.
The name "International Red Cross" was officially approved in 1928 at the 13th international conference in The Hague. At the same time, the organization's charter was adopted.
During the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, the Ottoman Empire refused to use this emblem. The Red Cross evoked negative associations among the Turks with the Crusaders. The Ottoman Empire announced its intention to use the red crescent instead of the red cross as a defensive emblem, while indicating that it would respect the red cross used by the enemy. Behind Ottoman Empire followed by other countries where the majority of the population professes Islam.
The Geneva Convention of 1929 recognized the red crescent as a second protective emblem.
At the 25th International Conference of the Red Cross, held in October 1986, a new name for the organization was approved - the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRC).
By the way...
What living creature is associated with medicine? Of course there is a snake wrapped around the bowl. Meanwhile, the poisonous reptile was not always the only medical emblem. There were and still are many alternative characters.
Great and terrible
Snake form of the ancient Egyptian goddess Isis
Snakes have been worshiped at all times and in all corners of the Earth. In the myths of Babylon and Assyria, these reptiles reigned in prehistoric times. Snake-headed gods were in many pantheons, and the scaly companion was one of the most frequent companions of higher powers.
“There is a great serpent; he is the king of the land of Ethiopia; All the rulers bow to him and bring him a beautiful maiden as a gift. Having decorated her, they bring her before this serpent and leave her alone, and this serpent devours her... The length of this serpent is 170 cubits, and the thickness is 4; his teeth are a cubit long, and his eyes are like a fiery flame, his eyebrows are black like a raven, and his whole appearance is like tin and copper... He has a horn of three cubits. When he moves, the noise can be heard for seven days' journey."
From an Abyssinian legend
Snakes were considered immortal - after all, they are capable of periodically shedding their skin, that is, renewing themselves. Many myths agree that this gift was originally intended for people, but either nosy reptiles stole it, as in Sumerian legends, or man himself abandoned the heavy burden of eternal life in favor of creeping reptiles, as in Greek myth.
In the ancient world, snakes were very closely intertwined with medicine. Thus, it was the snake, according to Greek mythology, that gave Asclepius the idea of the possibility of resurrecting the dead. One day he was invited to the palace of the Cretan ruler Minos to resurrect the deceased prince. On his staff, Asclepius suddenly saw a snake and killed it. Immediately another snake appeared with healing herbs in its mouth and resurrected the dead one. The future god used this herb and resurrected the deceased.
The snake wraps itself around the body of Isis, the patroness of healing in Ancient Egypt, cobra is one of the forms of the goddess. The same symbol adorned the field first aid kit of a military doctor in the Roman army. On the one hand, people wanted to appease the formidable forces of nature in this way, and on the other hand, using the ominous appearance of the snake, they wanted to scare away diseases.
Fateful Vessel
Another component of the traditional medical emblem - the cup - also has ancient origins. In desert areas, it was extremely important to catch the life-giving moisture sent from heaven, and large metal bowls were used for this. This is exactly what the sick man depicted on the ancient Egyptian stele holds in his hands, turning to the gods for help.
Water was an essential component of any treatment. Healing incantations and spells were often carved or minted directly on the vessels. The expressions “cup of life”, “cup of patience”, “drink the cup to the bottom”, “house full of cup” have been preserved to this day, which show how important these seemingly everyday utensils were for the ancestors.
Different bowls carried different symbolic meanings. For example, two-bottomed, or double, reflects the duality of human nature, positive and negative, heavenly and earthly components, sublime and base aspirations. That is why a cup without a second bottom, a Greek phial without a stand, has taken root in medicine. It is she who is often depicted in the hands of the daughters (and, according to another version, the wives in general) of Asclepius - Hygieia and Panacea.
The bowl is also directly related to snakes: their venom was collected and stored mainly in such vessels. It also mixed theriaki - ancient and medieval universal antidotes. Until the 20th century, copper or brass bowls were used by pharmacists.
One of the rare variants of the emblem is a snake entwined around the handle of a mirror. It seems to protect the surface of human consciousness, which contains within itself the reflections of previous millennia. Apparently, this is why the International Society for the History of Medicine chose such an unusual symbol for itself in 1980.
Symbol, but not the same one
If you look closely at the emblem of the World Health Organization, which was approved at the First Assembly in Geneva in 1948, you will notice that the snake there is not wrapped around a bowl, but a staff. Why did it happen? Where did this attribute even come from?
This is the staff of Asclepius. The same one that killed one snake and onto which the second one climbed, coming to resurrect it. This symbol contains a large number of other meanings. For example, it is most often depicted as a gnarled stick, which signifies a connection with the earth and nature. In addition, the staff is a symbol of travel, and it was during travel that ancient doctors acquired their knowledge and skills. In addition, if the doctor leaned on something while walking, it means that he was wise not only with years, but also with experience. And it was this doctor who was trusted the most.
In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the staff was transformed into a doctor's cane, and in some cases into a doctor's sword, which Paracelsus had, for example. Often at the top there was a secret medicine, a unique antidote, or simply vinegar used to prevent infection from the patient. The tradition disappeared only by the middle of the 20th century, and the staff became a symbol of medicine in Europe.
By the way, on the staff of Asclepius there may be not one snake, but two. But much more interesting story another emblem, when the staff is shorter, there are always two snakes, and there are also wings on top. Caduceus, the staff of heralds, as well as an indispensable instrument of the god Hermes (Mercury), capable of reconciling even the most ardent opponents. The caduceus became a general medical symbol during the Renaissance.
There is a version that this is due to the fact that in the 16th century alchemy began to develop, the patron of which was Hermes. The main goal of alchemical experiments at that time was no longer the search for the philosopher's stone, but the obtaining of medicines. On vessels with medicines alchemists usually put a seal with the image of Hermes. As an emblem of doctors, the caduceus has become established, for example, in the United States of America. But there is another version: the caduceus was simply mistaken for another staff of Asclepius, fortunately they are similar. How many erroneous things become entrenched in our lives? Here is the rod of Hermes - from approximately the same opera.
Well, the classic snake with a bowl has taken root mainly in the territory former USSR. IN modern Russia there were some modifications, for example, on the current emblem Military Medical Academy two snakes are depicted entwining a bowl in opposition to each other (see figure above).
And others
Asclepius and the rooster. Statue of Asclepius with a dog lying at his feet in the asklepion
For a long time, the owl, rooster, raven and dog were considered full and equivalent symbols of medicine. All of them in different time depicted next to Asclepius. The owl and the raven were considered a symbol of wisdom, without which a doctor could not do without. A dog is the personification of loyalty and devotion, the desire to serve and protect. The raven from this company lasted the longest; medieval alchemists marked their medicines with its image.
An interesting interpretation of the role of the rooster: first of all, it was simply sacrificial food, its blood was intended for Asclepius, and its meat, which was attributed healing properties, was intended for the sick. With the advent of Christianity, another interpretation appeared: the crow of a rooster drives away evil spirits and welcomes the onset of morning, when most patients feel better.
“How pleasant is the crowing of a rooster at night. And not only pleasant, but also useful. This cry inspires hope in everyone’s heart; patients feel relief, pain in wounds decreases: with the arrival of light, the heat of the fever subsides"
Ambrose of Milan (III century)
The rooster was often depicted paired with a snake, in which case they personified two key qualities of a doctor: vigilance and caution. Sometimes on ancient bas-reliefs, Asclepius is accompanied by a goat. Her image recalls that, according to Greek mythology, the goat Athena fed milk to the baby Asclepius. Therefore, bulls, pigs and rams were usually sacrificed in asklepions, but goats were never among the sacrificial animals.
In the 13th century, images of a staff with a snake and a singing rooster decorated title pages medical essays. During the Renaissance, medicine was often depicted as a woman (presumably Hygieia) crowned with laurels. In one hand she held a staff entwined with a snake, and in the other a rooster.
Crosses and stars
The red cross and blue six-pointed star can be considered a modern addition to the arsenal of medical paraphernalia. I think everyone knows the history of the first symbol, so I’ll just remind you briefly: in 1863, a committee was created in Geneva to reduce the suffering of soldiers during wars; without thinking twice, the participants in the founding conference chose the inverted flag of Switzerland as an emblem. The Red Cross, initially associated only with the ICRC, has taken root and has become perhaps the most common designation for everything medical: it is on specialized medical machines, on the doors of medical institutions, even on first aid kits in computer games, and a lot more.
However, this is slightly completely wrong from a legal point of view. The Red Cross is an official and protected image, belongs only to the ICRC, and is used exclusively in war time. It may be worn by military medics, military chaplains, or used to mark casualty care facilities, including hospital tents, or to identify an international or national representative of an organization. That's all. The ICRC, through its national committees, tries to admonish organizations and people who use the red cross left and right, sometimes even going to court, for example, at one time Johnson & Johnson had their trademark in the form of a red cross forcibly taken away.
However, this legal conflict also has back side: Protected image – red cross on a white background. If you change the background color or the cross, that’s it, take it whoever you want, use it where you want. This is how the green cross of pharmacists, the blue cross of veterinarians, etc. appeared. By and large, even a classic red cross, but on a blue, yellow, purple, or any other background, is already a completely legal logo.
A very short lyrical digression: if it’s completely correct, then the Templars and Hospitallers painted red (although not only red) crosses on their clothes, and it is to the latter that we owe the appearance of hospitals. Initially, they were kind of shelters, hotels or something, but gradually they began to talk about the military (at first), and then about civilian hospitals. Another thing is that the Hospitaller crosses were different from the Swiss one, which the ICRC took for itself, but that’s a completely different story.
During the Russian-Turkish War (1876-1878), another official symbol appeared - the red crescent, an option for Muslim countries. The Israelis tried to promote red mogendoweed, but the ICRC did not like the idea. After much debate, in 2005, at a special conference, the non-religious symbol of the ICRC was adopted by a two-thirds vote - a red crystal, an equilateral rhombus on a white background.
The fact is that by that time a huge mass of applications for international recognition of national and/or religious emblems of red color had accumulated: here is the Siamese red flame, and the Persian red sun, and the red wheel with a swastika, and the red Lebanese cedar, and the red Sudanese rhinoceros , and a red Syrian palm tree and even a red star declared from Zimbabwe. The ICRC considered that such diversity destroys the very idea of a universal single symbol that can be used as a protective symbol in any war. Three are enough, the ICRC said: the cross for Christians, the crescent for Muslims, the rest will be killed by crystal, there is no need to multiply the essence.
The Emergencies Ministry swallowed the pill, the crosses were removed, and in their place they put a blue star with six rays, and these rays are the main tasks that rescuers and paramedics solve: detection, communication with specialists, response, assistance on the spot, assistance during transportation, delivery in health care facilities. The star was patented in 1977, and the logo of the American Medical Association was taken as the basis for its development. In 1997, the patent protection expired, and today many ambulances around the world carry the Star of Life on their boards - from Peru to Poland and from Sweden to Italy. It is noteworthy that inside the blue star is a regular staff, classic, long, with one snake and without wings.
P.S. I don’t pretend to be comprehensive; it’s possible that I missed something important.
A greatly abbreviated version of the article was published in the magazine “Russian Pharmacies”, 2013, No. 24