Regular Emergency Forces

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The main duty of the personnel of Ambulance Command, to provide pre-hospital care to the sick and the injured and convey them to hospital.

Before 1953, the emergency ambulance services were provided by Hong Kong Fire Brigade whereas non-emergency ambulance services were provided by the then Medical Department.

The Fire Brigade took over the personnel and vehicles from the Medical Department. to provide both emergency and non-emergency ambulance services to the public on July, 1953.

The Ambulance Command was set up on 1968 to replace the then Ambulance Division. The recruit training courses for Ambulancemen were extended from 8 weeks to 10 weeks in 1984.

In 1992, two ambulance officers were sent to the Canada to receive training at Emergency Medical Assistant II (EMAII) level. Ten Ambulance Officers attained the EMA II Instructor qualification under the Canada supported. The FS Ambulance Command Training School commenced operation in the same year.

In order to provide the dedicated emergency ambulance services, the Fire Services Department transferred a majority of non-emergency services to the Hospital Authority and Auxiliary Medical Service in 1995. The first EMA II paramedic was trained in the following years. They can use defibrillators, administration of selected drugs and intravenous/ intramuscular injection. To improve the quality of emergency ambulance services, EMA II paramedic also receive training on advanced airway management of using Laryngel Mask Airway and Combitude. Through the techniques, casualties who have sustained serere injuries or critical illnesses can receive a more professional pre-hospital care.