Actually, many decades ago the majority of the EMS units had "blue lights" inside the ambulance along with the usual lights. One could place the blue lights on and it would not disturb the driver with the ambient light. It was never used to "calm", etc.
Personally, I liked it a lot and should had never been used as a primary light. The problem became because of stupidity EMT"s would not monitor or watch their patient and "supposedly" some of the patients color would change (i.e cyanotic, ashen, etc) and was not as noticeable. At least that was the excuse given from the manufactures. Also, many at the time were changing from units such a suburbans and cadillacs to Type I and the light no longer interfered with the driver (as much).
R/r 911