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Always Getting Brighter: the History of Emergency Lighting

Emergency Lighting LED - LED Lights - History of Emergency Lighting

The History of Emergency Lighting

All around us, we see technology change and improve. Televisions, phones, and computers change right before our eyes all the time. Even lighting is always advancing thanks to technology and expert engineering. Emergency lighting is pretty hard to miss when you see it, but it wasn’t always as bright and effective as it is today!

In fact, it took a little bit of time for lighting to catch on for emergency vehicles. The first ambulances in New York City were horse-drawn and simply sounded a gong to alert people to move aside. Though early gas-powered ambulances utilized dome lights, it was only on the interior to illuminate the passengers. In the early 1900s when police departments across the country began patrolling precincts in cars, there was no way to differentiate police vehicles from civilian vehicles. Thus, police drove around in convertible cars, so civilians would see the officers’ hats.

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The first lighting implemented on police vehicles was the single rotating beacon light.

The Beginnings of Emergency Lighting

Emergency response teams began using lighting around the 1940s, when police began using a single rotating beacon light (also called a gumball light because of its resemblance to the dome top of a gumball machine). By the 1960s, single lights gave way to light bars. Light bars offered greater visibility than the beacon light, especially from the side. Even though we still see light bars today on police vehicles, the original light bars were magnetic, while modern light bars are mounted to the roof of the car. Some of the first exterior lighting for ambulances originated on a 1965 Chevrolet model, when an extra set of tail lights were modified to fit above the windshield.

Aeronautical and nautical vessels had long used blue lights to indicate direction, but it wasn’t until the late 60s that blue lights were introduced to the emergency vehicle system. Because different emergency response teams utilize different colors of lights depending on local regulations and laws, the introduction of blue helped avoid confusion. Blue lights are also more visible at night and stand out from the red lights of vehicle tail lights.

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Modern Lighting for a Modern World

Modern emergency response vehicles rely on light-emitting diodes, or LEDs. Though the initial cost is higher with LEDs, they are more energy-efficient and last longer than traditional bulbs. On average, a traditional bulb lasts between 1000 and 1500 hours. Meanwhile, an LED lasts over 50,000 hours!  LEDs are also resistant to extreme cold and humidity, so they do not need to be replaced as often. Despite being more energy efficient than equivalent incandescent bulbs, LEDs are much brighter for the consumed wattage. LEDs are small, offering a flexible range of use, and do not emit heat like traditional bulbs.

Advancements in lighting have come a long way, but the industry is constantly evolving and improving. Many modern emergency lights operate with a digital control interface. While many lights still function on an on-off basis, a digital control system allows a greater range of use. For example, digital systems offer different kinds of signals, log usage, and can increase or decrease output.

HG2 Emergency Lighting is proud to be part of the continued improvements in keeping first responders and citizens safe. We strive to create innovative products that improve safety and visibility. HG2 are the originators of side lighting and we are always innovating, never imitating. Once again, history has been made. What was once a new idea is now an industry standard with imitators following our lead and producing their own side lighting products. However, history is changed through innovative designs and cutting-edge technology, not imitation. HG2 is committed to bringing the newest and most advanced technology to emergency lighting. We look forward to many more contributions to the history of emergency lighting and serving those who serve us.

4 Comments

  1. My brother started working for the local fire department. To improve response time, they need to look into emergency lighting. Thanks for explaining that an LED light can last over fifty thousand hours!

  2. Did ANY ONE … know that officially Pharmacy delivering meds is an Important emergency medication and there official colors is WHITE GREEN! Yes even in Great Britain in America ALL GREEN is a Dr. White green pharmacy technician and Delivery cars mini van or mini trucks. 06.15.2021 ALL LEAGLE security cars RED ONLY in back And yellow white only in front.

  3. It’s great to know that many modern lighting can operate with digital control interface these days. With that in mind, amber warning lights and other police lights can easily be controlled if they need to respond to an emergency immediately. It can definitely save lives if these are effectively used to clear the road and let other drivers become aware of the presence of authorities.

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