St John Ambulance facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
St John Ambulance

Maltese cross used by St John Ambulance movement across the world.
Countries with national St John Ambulance organisations
Abbreviation	SJA
Formation	1877; 148 years ago (1877)
Parent organisation	Order of Saint John (chartered 1888)
Volunteers	500,000

St John Ambulance is a group of organizations around the world. They are mostly found in countries that are part of the Commonwealth. Their main job is to teach and provide first aid and emergency medical services. Most of their work is done by amazing volunteers.

These groups are watched over by a bigger international organization called the Order of St John. This Order has national branches called priories.

The Story of St John Ambulance

The very first St John Ambulance group started in England. It was called the St John Ambulance Association. This happened on July 10, 1877. Their goal was to teach first aid in places like railway centers and mining areas.

In June 1887, the first uniformed first-aiders appeared. They were part of the St John Ambulance Brigade. A year later, on May 14, 1888, Queen Victoria officially recognized the Order of St John.

Later, in 1974, the St John Ambulance Association and the St John Ambulance Brigade joined together. They formed the St John Ambulance Foundation.

Today, St John Ambulance has over 40 national groups. Many of these groups work with Johanniter International. There are more than 300,000 volunteers helping people worldwide!

The Order of St John owns the St John name and logo in most countries. The only main exception is India. The St John Ambulance in India is not connected to the international group.

The logos might look a bit different in each country. But they all have the special eight-pointed white Maltese cross. This cross is their main symbol. Like the Order, St John Ambulance welcomes people of all religions.

The way St John Ambulance is set up can be different in each country. This is because of different laws, medical rules, and cultures. So, what St John Ambulance does and how it works can change from one country to another.

How St John Ambulance Works

Each St John Ambulance group has its own legal setup. This depends on the country, state, or even city it is in. For example, in England and Wales, the groups are registered as both charities and companies. But in South Africa, St John Ambulance is a "public benefit organisation."

St John Ambulance is present in many countries, including:

St John Ambulance groups used to have ranks like in the military. Now, some groups use civilian titles instead. Examples include Unit Manager or Superintendent.

Working with Johanniter International

After World War II, British soldiers started Saint John groups in Germany. They worked with the Johanniter Orden, which is a German Order of Saint John. Together, they created the Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe in 1952.

In recent years, more Saint John groups have started in Europe. These groups are not directly linked to the British St John Ambulance. You can find them in countries like Austria, Denmark, Sweden, and Poland.

In 1999, leaders from different Saint John Orders met. They decided it would be good to work more closely in Europe. This led to the creation of Johanniter International (JOIN). Today, JOIN connects sixteen national Saint John organizations across Europe.

Connection to the Order of St John

Logo of the Order of St John.

The Order of Saint John is also known as the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem. It is an international group of chivalry. Its main office is in the United Kingdom.

This Order started the St John Ambulance groups. It also helps to guide their work. The Order owns the rights to the St John name and its famous Maltese Cross logo.

The Order also runs the St John Eye Hospital Group. This hospital group is separate from the ambulance services. Most people who are part of St John Ambulance are not members of the Order itself. And most Order members are not part of St John Ambulance. So, a big presence of the Order does not always mean a big St John Ambulance group.

See also

Topics related to St John Ambulance and the Order:

• St John Ambulance Ranks and Insignia
• St John Ambulance Cadets in the UK
• Service Medal of the Order of St John

Similar movements:

• Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe (Germany)
• Venerabile Arciconfraternita della Misericordia di Firenze (Italy)
• International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (international)
• Sovereign Military Order of Malta (international)
  • Order of Malta Ambulance Corps (Ireland)
• Street medic