Editing Ambulance (section)

===Passive visual warnings===
{{multiple image|perrow = 3|total_width=420
| align     = right
| direction = horizontal
| image1    = Star of life2.svg
| image2    = Flag_of_the_Red_Cross.svg
| image3    = Flag_of_the_Red_Crescent.svg
| image5    = Maltese_cross.svg
| image6    = Battenburg-ambulance.svg
| footer    = Various symbols for identifying ambulances:<br />'''Top:''' The [[Star of Life]], the [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|Red Cross]], the [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|Red Crescent]]<br />'''Bottom:''' The [[Maltese Cross]], [[Battenburg markings]]
}}

Passive visual warnings are usually part of the design of the vehicle, and involve the use of high contrast patterns. Older ambulances (and those in [[developing countries]]) are more likely to have their pattern painted on, whereas modern ambulances generally carry [[Retroreflector|retro-reflective]] designs, which reflects light from car headlights or torches. Popular patterns include 'checker board' (alternate coloured squares, sometimes called '[[Battenburg markings|Battenburg]]', named after a [[Battenberg cake|type of cake]]), chevrons (arrowheads – often pointed towards the front of the vehicle if on the side, or pointing vertically upwards on the rear) or stripes along the side (these were the first type of retro-reflective device introduced, as the original reflective material, invented by [[3M]], only came in tape form). In addition to retro-reflective markings, some services now have the vehicles painted in a bright (sometimes [[Fluorescence|fluorescent]]) yellow or orange for maximum visual impact, though classic white or red are also common. Fire department-operated ambulances are often painted red to match the fire apparatuses.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Another passive marking form is the word ''ambulance'' (or local language variant) spelled out in reverse on the front of the vehicle. This enables drivers of other vehicles to more easily identify an approaching ambulance in their [[rear view mirror]]s. Ambulances may display the name of their owner or operator, and an [[emergency telephone number]] for the ambulance service.

[[File:NSW Ambulance Australia.png|thumb|An ambulance in [[New South Wales]], Australia with warped Battenburg markings, the Maltese Cross, and additional fluorescent reflective stripes to aid in visibility. Also visible are its emergency lights.]]
Ambulances may also carry an emblem (either as part of the passive warning markings or not), such as a Red Cross, Red Crescent or Red Crystal (collective known as the [[Emblems of the Red Cross|Protective Symbols]]). These are symbols laid down by the [[Geneva Convention]], and all countries signatory to it agree to restrict their use to either (1) Military Ambulances or (2) the national [[Red Cross]] or [[Red Crescent]] society. Use by any other person, organization or agency is in breach of international law. The protective symbols are designed to indicate to all people (especially combatants in the case of war) that the vehicle is neutral and is not to be fired upon, hence giving protection to the medics and their casualties, although this has not always been adhered to.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dromi |first1=Shai M. |title=Above the fray: The Red Cross and the making of the humanitarian NGO sector |date=2020 |publisher=Univ. of Chicago Press |location=Chicago |isbn=978-0226680101 |pages=55–56 |url=https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/A/bo46479924.html}}</ref> In Israel, [[Magen David Adom]], the Red Cross member organization use a red [[Star of David]], but this does not have recognition beyond Israeli borders, where they must use the Red Crystal.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

The [[Star of Life]] is widely used, and was originally designed and governed by the U.S. [[National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ems.gov/vgn-ext-templating/ems/sol/pages/Contents.htm|title=Star of Life DOT HS 808 721|publisher=National Highway Safety Administration|access-date=19 November 2009}}</ref> because the Red Cross symbol is legally protected by both National<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=000340&tid=019 |title=The Red Cross Emblem |publisher=The Canadian Red Cross |access-date=19 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111081703/http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=000340&tid=019 |archive-date=11 January 2010}}</ref> and international<ref>{{cite web|title=The Emblems|date=28 December 2015|url=https://www.icrc.org/en/document/emblems|url-status=live|access-date=28 December 2015|publisher=International Committee of the Red Cross|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701024007/https://www.icrc.org/en/document/emblems |archive-date=1 July 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icrc.org/Web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/genevaconventions|title=The Geneva Convention of 1949|publisher=International Committee of the Red Cross|access-date=19 November 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091122011212/http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/genevaconventions| archive-date= 22 November 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> law.

Ambulance services with historical origins such as the [[Venerable Order of Saint John|Order of St John]], the [[Order of Malta Ambulance Corps]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://orderofmaltaireland.org/|title=Order of Malta Charity Ireland}}</ref> and [[Malteser International]] often use the [[Maltese cross]] to identify their ambulances. This is especially important in countries such as Australia, where [[St. John Ambulance]] operate one state and one territory ambulance service, and all of Australia's other ambulance services use variations on a red Maltese cross.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/about/default.asp|title=About Queensland Ambulance Service|access-date=27 June 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070706071845/http://www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/about/default.asp| archive-date= 6 July 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ambulance.act.gov.au/|title=ACT Ambulance Service|access-date=27 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630131352/http://www.ambulance.act.gov.au/|archive-date=30 June 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asnsw.health.nsw.gov.au/|title=Ambulance Service of New South Wales|access-date=27 June 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070607030731/http://www.asnsw.health.nsw.gov.au/index.html |archive-date = 7 June 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saambulance.com.au/|title=South Australian Ambulance Service|access-date=27 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070625084647/http://www.saambulance.com.au/|archive-date=25 June 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Fire service]] operated ambulances may display the Cross of [[Saint Florian|St. Florian]] (often incorrectly called a Maltese cross) as this cross is frequently used as a fire department logo (St. Florian being the patron saint of [[firefighter]]s).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saintflorian.net/index.html|title=St. Florian – Patron Saint of Firefighters|access-date=3 June 2007|publisher=stflorian.net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927201655/http://www.saintflorian.net/index.html|archive-date=27 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>