On December 4, 1916 the fire department of the City of Bloomington announced a new innovation in city services. A car owned by the fire department would be fitted out with first aid equipment, including a lung motor, several kinds of fire extinguishers, a complete first aid kit and the tools needed to shut off every kind of meter. This was not another ambulance, because the plan was that if an ambulance was needed, it could be sent as well, and the ambulance driver would not be troubled to bring along his first aid kit. At this time ambulances were mainly involved in transportation and did not provide medical treatment. Ambulances were operated out of the police department and sometimes funeral homes.
The second concern was that a physician should be available for all emergency calls. There was a county doctor, but his duties included those of looking after the poor farm inmates and other needy patients. The suggestion was that a city doctor should be hired to cover emergency calls at all hours.
This first aid car was a huge innovation and would not be followed up by paramedic service until after 1978. (What many people do not know is that the Bloomington Fire Department hires only qualified paramedics as firemen. I learned this when I attended Bloomington 101, which I cannot recommend strongly enough for anyone interested in Bloomington city government and services. This program, which lasts 11 weeks, is not only incredibly informative but entertaining as well!)