The federal Highway Safety Act in 1966, followed by the Emergency Medical Services Systems Act of 1973, mandated better training and care, especially in rural areas. At the time, many VFDs were filling the EMS void, as funeral homes were pulling out of the ambulance business.

EMTs became the norm; before that the more typical level of training was advanced first aid. Also, what was known as the HEAR radio evolved - allowing direct EMS-to-hospital radio communications. In earlier years-- those around back then will remember -- the ambulance crew would radio County Control, on the only fire frequency, and have them relay by phone that you were enroute with a patient (along with a brief summary of the nature). And if you're really old enough, you will recall it was BCMH (Butler County Memorial Hospital) until the "c" was dropped.