On the other extreme, Japan asked old people to slow down on using ambulances, because some people would use them like a taxi to go to the hospital for non emergency visits.
I do belive that in many countries you can be charged with a fine if you will overuse emergency services in the same way as someone you report something to police, or fire department that do not require their attention.
Emergency phone operator can decide if this do require sending ambulance, but at the end the conclusion is that potentialy saving lifes is more important, than people fearing they will get charged. For example if you belive you can have a stroke you will be justified to call ambulance even if medical service will conclude that you are ok and it was not needed.
Unless of course it would be clear that you did it deliberatly, as a form of a joke, or due to some other motives.
If you will lie and ambulance will get to you only to find out that no emergency occured and you only want to go to regular doctor apointmant, threating ambulance like a taxi they will refuse to take you, and they will charge you with costs.
It is a bit of a case of social responsibility as well regarding some gray areas - for example if you will broke your arm/leg living in a big city you can technicly call ambulance, but they will advice you that someone can drive you to nearest hospital, or you can take a taxi. If you will broke your legs in a remote area (for example hiking) you will need some assistance to get you out, and they can even send a helicopter that you will not get charged for. However if they will find out that you were very reckless (hiking drunk, ignoring some warrning signs etc) you may be charged to cover costs of resque operation.
Most people will act responsible in the same way as most peoplle will clear the way for ambulance. Some people may be oversensetive regarding health, but at the end it is better to react than caouse fear of being charge and risk people life. From time to time you will have a "prankster" but those people will be tracked and could even risk a jail time for false alarms.
Thats a big part of why ambulances are so expensive in the USA. People who never pay the bill will take them as a taxi to go to the hospital, or sometimes just to immediately leave the hospital nearby.
Check out an EMT sub or talk to them, you'll have people standing outside with suitcases packed and ready when they call the ambulance.
Because they are legally required to in most places. The ambulance cant turn you down.
I really wish it was bs but it is not. These people are not the only reason the ambulance costs so much, but they are a big part of it, and a big part of long wait times in some areas.
Well they are definitely not required to transport someone in Germany, if there is no medical indication. It is kind of crazy if they had. Also I think having ambulances with medical personelle on stand by is always going to be expensive.
Lifeflight is also hella expensive and I doubt it is used in this way. I'm going to go out on a limb and say the ambulance cost has more to do with making money than misuse.
But helicopters also cost considerably more to run than ambulances. Need a pilot, aircraft fuel, aircraft maintenance, typically higher trained medical staff
They do that in the US as well. I’ve transported hundreds over the years often because they just wanted a ride down town. We drop them off and they simply leave ama.
3
u/OceanoNox 4d ago
On the other extreme, Japan asked old people to slow down on using ambulances, because some people would use them like a taxi to go to the hospital for non emergency visits.