Star of Life
The Star of Life is the international symbol for rescue service facilities .
It consists of a cross or star formed from three bars in blue color on a white background, in the middle there is a staff of Aesculapia in white color.
meaning
The six ends of the star stand for the six basic tasks of the emergency service:
- Fast arrival at the emergency site
- Situation investigation
- Report to the control center
- First aid for patients on site
- Further supply on the transport
- Professional transport to a suitable hospital
history
The Star of Life was developed in 1973 by Leo R. Schwartz for the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration , whose emergency services department he was head of at the time. The reason for this was a complaint from the US Red Cross , which saw its rights impaired by the previous use of an orange cross on all rescue equipment . On February 1, 1977, the Star of Life was registered as a registered trademark by the American Medical Association .
Situation in Germany
In Germany, the Star of Life, despite its international significance as a symbol for the rescue service, is recognized by the Federal Association of Independent Rescue Services and Disaster Protection (BKS) e. V., formerly the Federal Association of Independent Rescue Services e. V., under the register numbers 2032229 and 2103438 as a collective trademark. It may therefore only be used by organizations that are members of this association. The BKS takes consistent action against the infringement of its trademark rights.
Situation in Switzerland
In Switzerland, the Red Cross emblem was replaced by the Star of Life on all emergency vehicles in the late 1980s. The Association of Paramedics Switzerland (VRS) registered the Star of Life as a trademark in February 2007 in order to prevent improper use, according to its own information. A sole use as a club logo as in Germany is not intended.
Recognizability of ambulances
With DIN EN 1789: 2007 (replacement for DIN EN 1789: 2003-08) in (informative) Annex A, the Star of Life (minimum size 500 mm) was added as an alternative to the symbols of the Red Cross communities together with reflective letters and numbers or symbols to identify the vehicle on the roof (cf. for Germany DIN 14035: 1981-11 on roof lettering with the vehicle registration number). The corresponding symbol (Red Cross Association or Star of Life) together with the word “Ambulance” (or its national translation) should also be used on the sides and rear of these vehicles. However, the standard only suggests the Star of Life for ambulances as long as it does not affect national law. In Germany, however, this is the case through the trademark protection of the BKS.
Individual evidence
- ↑ UCS star - UCS | Federal Association. Retrieved January 23, 2020 (German).
- ↑ Overview of the Swiss Paramedic Association (VRS): Star of Life - Logo and trademark protection of the Star of Life as a registered trademark