The red and white colors only symbolized, white for the clothes that medic's wore when performing medical situations, and red stood for the color of blood . The older symbol, FOUR SIDED CROSS, that was common years ago on ambulances was the color red in the center, and the ambulance was usually white to go with it. Doctors,Nurses,Barbers,Dentist and Hospitals all went by that theem. The barber pole also became controversial when the uni-sex shops became known as a place for men and women to get a hair cut in the 1960's. I hope that was cleared up a little.