The American paradox: you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
Mediocre_Daikon6935 on
An ambulance is a custom vehicle that (fully equipped) costs nearly a million dollars that brings professionals who are trained to stabilize life threatening emergencies *to you*, and get you out of the situation you in.
And if you don’t think the *getting you out* part is important, I’ll happily toss myself in some of the places I’ve found patients and you can see first hand how difficult it can be.
Assuming you are sick/ injured enough to need a paramedic, they are literally bring you a mobile ICU, which is going to provide care which, in a hospital would be done by multiple, different highly trained professionals.
You need a vent/Cpap/biPap/nebulized meds? That’s handled by Realitor Therapy, but the paramedic will manage that.
Oh? You need an ekg, IVs and medication? Normally the RN does that, but the paramedic is going to deal with that.
You need intubated or a surgical cric? Generally done by an Emergency Medicine Physician or an Anesthesiologist, most other doctors would not feel comfortable doing it, but yea, the Paramedic is going to handle that too. After you get toss from a car because you hit a tractor trailer as something closer to the speed of a fighter jet, lying in the road at night in a thunderstorm with blood pouring into your airway from your facial injuries.
Oh, your hearts in a lethal rhythm? The paramedic is going to address that issue.
Collapsed lung? Yea, we’ll work on that for you.
Actively trying to bleed to death because you took a chainsaw to the knee? Easy fix. (The chainsaw to the chest was a bit more complicated).
*********^^****
So yea. It isn’t a taxi. And if what you need is a ride, you don’t need an ambulance.
And if you’re wondering, I’ve priced compared. It is cheaper than en Uber Black, during *non* peek Uber pricing.
Relative_Loquat_1606 on
People avoid using them a lot. I respond to traffic accidents and the majority of people say they will get a ride to the hospital themselves and I don’t blame them. Unless it’s a necessity, people view them like a fine.
la_ciellanza on
Better take an Uber than be in debt 10k
WebMD_PhD on
That title is nonsensical
old-skool-bro on
Uhhh… I mean… an ambulance is for situations where you’re completely unable to get yourself to the hospital… if you’ve got a broken arm or some shit and you’re able to get yourself to a hospital you should do that and not tie up a custom built vehicle operated by medically trained professionals who could be helping someone who’s just had a heart attack but can’t now because they’re busy being used as a taxi to the hospital…
I’m like 70% sure that’s what the dude meant…
ElizabethAudi on
I get so many ambulances called on me, and I’m in no state to do anything to prevent it- my normal is so incredibly fucked up; I shit you not, my record thus far is 3 ambulances in 4 days.
They just look me over and take me home now, ain’t nothing the hospital can do for me anyway- courtesy rides are a thing around here though, not sure about elsewhere- so a taxi home at least, yes?
My first ever ambulance ride did cost me $500 though, but that was before I was covered by disability.
8 Comments
It’s a taxi for *rich* people to the hospital
The American paradox: you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
An ambulance is a custom vehicle that (fully equipped) costs nearly a million dollars that brings professionals who are trained to stabilize life threatening emergencies *to you*, and get you out of the situation you in.
And if you don’t think the *getting you out* part is important, I’ll happily toss myself in some of the places I’ve found patients and you can see first hand how difficult it can be.
Assuming you are sick/ injured enough to need a paramedic, they are literally bring you a mobile ICU, which is going to provide care which, in a hospital would be done by multiple, different highly trained professionals.
You need a vent/Cpap/biPap/nebulized meds? That’s handled by Realitor Therapy, but the paramedic will manage that.
Oh? You need an ekg, IVs and medication? Normally the RN does that, but the paramedic is going to deal with that.
You need intubated or a surgical cric? Generally done by an Emergency Medicine Physician or an Anesthesiologist, most other doctors would not feel comfortable doing it, but yea, the Paramedic is going to handle that too. After you get toss from a car because you hit a tractor trailer as something closer to the speed of a fighter jet, lying in the road at night in a thunderstorm with blood pouring into your airway from your facial injuries.
Oh, your hearts in a lethal rhythm? The paramedic is going to address that issue.
Collapsed lung? Yea, we’ll work on that for you.
Actively trying to bleed to death because you took a chainsaw to the knee? Easy fix. (The chainsaw to the chest was a bit more complicated).
*********^^****
So yea. It isn’t a taxi. And if what you need is a ride, you don’t need an ambulance.
And if you’re wondering, I’ve priced compared. It is cheaper than en Uber Black, during *non* peek Uber pricing.
People avoid using them a lot. I respond to traffic accidents and the majority of people say they will get a ride to the hospital themselves and I don’t blame them. Unless it’s a necessity, people view them like a fine.
Better take an Uber than be in debt 10k
That title is nonsensical
Uhhh… I mean… an ambulance is for situations where you’re completely unable to get yourself to the hospital… if you’ve got a broken arm or some shit and you’re able to get yourself to a hospital you should do that and not tie up a custom built vehicle operated by medically trained professionals who could be helping someone who’s just had a heart attack but can’t now because they’re busy being used as a taxi to the hospital…
I’m like 70% sure that’s what the dude meant…
I get so many ambulances called on me, and I’m in no state to do anything to prevent it- my normal is so incredibly fucked up; I shit you not, my record thus far is 3 ambulances in 4 days.
They just look me over and take me home now, ain’t nothing the hospital can do for me anyway- courtesy rides are a thing around here though, not sure about elsewhere- so a taxi home at least, yes?
My first ever ambulance ride did cost me $500 though, but that was before I was covered by disability.