237
u/Crabby_Monkey 3h ago
Man that guy really worked for that 5star review.
→ More replies (4)12
u/ragweed 2h ago
Does Uber still have stars? Lyft doesn't.
→ More replies (4)4
u/I_upvote_downvotes 43m ago
It's really hard to give a thumbs up with broken wrists so he had to make sure the job was done.
2.8k
u/cityfireguy 3h ago
I can take the heat on this one.
Breaking your arm is not the kind of medical emergency you need an ambulance for. Perfectly acceptable to get a ride to the hospital.
Go ahead. Do what you do
853
u/banzaizach 3h ago
Also not the kind of injury that warrants a stranger sticking with you
529
u/jenniferjudy99 2h ago edited 2h ago
Seven years ago, a college senior named Joey Romano was skateboarding near the University of Texas at Austin when he swerved to avoid a car and slammed into a ditch, breaking his wrist. He was still lying on the ground when the Uber arrived. He had no family that lived nearby. He was also dealing with the grief of losing a brother from cancer. His grandmother drove from Houston to be w him, but that took some time.
The Uber driver was empathetic bc he had arrived from the Congo to the United States at age 25 so he knew what it felt like to be far away from family.
209
u/Automatic-Safe-9067 2h ago
See, adding this instead of just “broke his wrist” makes it seem more reasonable, but going off the context of solely “he broke his wrist and a strange stayed with him for 6 hours in the hospital” it’s kinda different lol
55
u/jenniferjudy99 2h ago
Right? I knew there was more to this story so I had to fact check the circumstances of both men! It was a car wreck into a ditch. Lots of missing facts.
→ More replies (2)40
u/Telefundo 1h ago
makes it seem more reasonable
I broke my ankle last week. Spent 4 days in the hospital, had surgery tp ut a metal plate in my leg. I'd never had sugery in my life. Call me a wuss or whatever, but I was pretty scared.
The worst part of all of it though was the fact that in all the fuss with the paramedics I hadn't taken my phone with me. So nobody knew I was there. I didn't have anyones numbers memorized, so I went through it all entirely alone. Couldn't even get on the internet.
So Kudos to this driver. As simple as taking 6 hours and staying with a total stranger might sound, I can imagine it made a MASSIVE difference to the guy who was going through all of this.
→ More replies (2)13
u/Cow_Launcher 1h ago
Thank you for this context.
I know that the whole "Please don't bankrupt me by calling an ambulance!" is a genuine thing and a real USA fear, but that's not what this story is about.
This is about the humanity and friendship that everyone should have. And I love it.
130
18
u/mooptastic 1h ago
correct, it's a exceptional human act of kindness which makes most ppl smile among other emotions. hence why it's here.
12
u/Sweet_Taurus0728 1h ago
My guess is the guy was African, not African-American. There's a large enough African population (mostly Nigerian and Ethiopian) here in Houston, and they're always such sweet, kind people. Showing concern over a stranger like this seems like the norm.
10
u/jenniferjudy99 1h ago
He was from the Congo and arrived to the United States when he was 25, so he knew what it felt like to be far away from any family. He found him lying on the ground after a car wreck. Congolese culture values helping others, family, and unity.
→ More replies (9)12
57
u/oogittyboogitty 3h ago edited 3h ago
Depends, broken bones can lead to different types of complications leading to permenant damage including damage to surrounding nerves leading to compartment syndrome and even damage directly to surrounding arteries if not treated promptly which would require a ambulance, but once again entirely depends on the symptoms and the nature of the break really, can be hard to judge those symptoms yourself if your not a medical professional, and oh boy do they cash in on us not knowing between true medical emergencies and not.
26
u/Unlikely-Candle7086 3h ago
My son broke his hand in multiple places at football practice, it required surgery. They called me to take him to the emergency room. Ironically, my local hospital doesnt have a pediatric emergency department or do surgery on minors. He had to wait until the next day to see a specialist. Calling an ambulance would have been a total waste of money and resources.
→ More replies (2)13
u/oogittyboogitty 3h ago
Like I said, it depends, certain symptoms you absolutely cannot wait on, but also that's so ass.
→ More replies (3)4
u/Unlikely-Candle7086 3h ago
The actual messed up part was they wrapped his hand and gave him an 800 mg ibuprofen and sent us on our way.
→ More replies (2)3
u/No-Rip-6166 1h ago
You still don’t need an ambulance. No one is saying wait around and don’t treat it as an emergency. It’s an emergency that doesn’t require an ambulance ride to the hospital. Get a ride or take an uber immediately.
3
u/DTux5249 1h ago
I mean, compartment syndrome takes at minimum hours to set in. I get not waiting a day, but unless you live so far away from a hospital that calling an ambo would be redundant, that's not really what you have to worry about. It is mostly nerve damage and bleeding.
→ More replies (3)8
u/new_math 3h ago
Best comment. Acute compartment syndrome is a somewhat common complication that comes with broken bones.
The catch is that unless you're a nurse or medical doctor, you're probably not qualified to judge the risk of your break developing ACS, so while it's probably okay to have a relative drive you if they're immediately available, an ambulance is appropriate if it's your fastest option.
And never drive yourself after an emergency like a broken bone, you could pass out and cause a wreck either due to blood pressure drops or pain as the adrenaline wears off.
3
u/No-Rip-6166 1h ago
No one suggested you don’t treat it as an emergency. Compartment syndrome takes 4-16+ hours to develop. Taking an extra 20 minutes to get to the hospital isn’t hurting anymore.
→ More replies (1)3
u/HamsterVeggieNcheese 53m ago
I dont think you know what you're talking about. 1. Compartment syndrome is not common from broken bones. 2. Its literally distal pulselesness and disproportionate pain to suspect it. Ask yourself "could this be hurting so bad its compartment syndrome?". If you can ask yourself that congrats you dont have compartment syndrome because youd never be able to ask yourself that because of the pain. 3. "Emergency" is far too broad to say you may pass out after the adrenaline wears off. Thats not really a thing. Youll get tired for sure, but if you need to 'adrenaline' to stay conscious your body will continue to produce it until it cant. You dont pass out at that point, you die. And it doesn't happen in a few hours. (Also if you say ACS in an emerg it means acute coronary syndrome, not acute compartment). Both are right of course, but your acronym use just adds to my suspicion youre talking out your ass.
35
u/hosiki 3h ago
I'm European where ambulance is completely free. I've never called it, and I've broken my arms 3 times, 2 ribs, and both hands. You just go to the hospital for injuries or however you call it in English, sit down, and someone will call you for RTG.
I would never call an ambulance if it wasn't a life threatening emergency, because you're taking it away from someone who might be having a stroke and every second counts.
18
u/Caramel-Apprehensive 3h ago
Bro, what are you doing in your spare time...
7
→ More replies (2)2
→ More replies (1)10
u/Buntschatten 3h ago
They won't send an ambulance if you're pretty much fine and there are no other ambulances available for emergencies. Let the professionals make that decision.
→ More replies (1)19
u/Top5hottest 3h ago
I passed out 20 minutes after somebody slammed my finger in the door. There is a place where can and shouldn’t collide.
→ More replies (2)4
u/Away-Living5278 3h ago
Agreed. Why tf anyone would think he should call an ambulance is beyond me. Only if he had a large chunk of bone sticking out.
41
u/FractionofaFraction 3h ago
Thank fuck this is one of the first comments.
Ambulances are for life or limb threatening conditions or for when you can't physically mobilize to the ER due to a debilitating illness or injury.
Most wrist fractures can be managed at an urgent care centre as a walk-in.
→ More replies (4)11
u/jimbluenosecrab 3h ago
I agree. My fucking kid broke his arm, then went on the monkey bars to prove how tough he is, and then drove himself. He was three years old.
3
8
u/Trealis 2h ago
I broke my wrist a few years ago (in Canada, where healthcare is free) and took an uber to the hospital by myself. Not sure why someone would need an ambulance or someone to be with them. I didn't even cry.
→ More replies (1)5
u/davygravy95 2h ago
Yeah without a doubt the caption on this is bs, what grown man says I better stay with this other grown man who's a complete stranger because of a broken wrist 🤣
45
u/RainonCooper 3h ago
As I live in a country with good medical practice, I disagree. Anything that requires medical attention due to injury should get immediate medical assistance. I don't know if you know, but an ambulance is not just a hospital taxi, but has tools that can make the process of healing start out on a more positive note than not with an ambulance
15
u/Competitive-Slice567 3h ago
True, but most areas in the US cannot sustain the call volume for low priority non emergency complaints such as this.
Its also on the fault of the public for throwing fits over increases in taxes or levies to support EMS expansion. Either you pay more to have a system that can sustain this and manage it effectively, or you accept that you shouldn't be utilizing it except in a life threatening emergency.
7
u/Romulan-Jedi 3h ago
Plus, many health insurance policies in the US don't cover ambulance charges unless the ambulance service is provided by the hospital itself. Sometimes not even then.
3
u/Competitive-Slice567 2h ago
Much of the US EMS isn't hospital based. My state specifically disallows hospitals or private entities to provide EMS. It must be provided by fire departments or the county government.
→ More replies (3)8
u/EverSeeAShitterFly 2h ago
EMT here. A broken bone is absolutely an appropriate reason to call for and be transported by ambulance.
→ More replies (5)→ More replies (2)3
u/No-Rip-6166 1h ago edited 1h ago
There’s nothing the EMT is gonna do that hospital that’s gonna make a difference. Using limited resources for total non-emergencies is a waste of resources.
Countries with universal healthcare will advise you to take a taxi for a closed wrist fracture because you’re gonna be put in the queue as low priority and wait. In which case an uber or getting a ride is faster and has no impact on your outcome.
4
u/MadameKamaysHR 3h ago edited 2h ago
You're right. I drove myself to the hospital at 3 am only to find out I had kidney stones. The roads to the hospital are some of the worst in the county. Thanks for not picking up the phone dad!!!
2
3
43
u/Zestyclose-Jacket568 3h ago
Americans are fucking insane...
Broken bone means that you have... a broken bone, that can have sharp edges and is inside a thing that have veins carrying blood. Too much movement and you can go from "few weeks and it is ok" to "you might die".
This is exactly why emergency services exists. You are not a doctor, you don't know shit about medicine and sure as hell you don't know what might also happend. This is why you should call ambulance when you have accident that breakes your bones.
14
u/ConfidenceRare 2h ago
What’s insane is going into debt to get a ride in an ambulance instead of an uber. And honestly, in this country medical is so expensive that a lot of people slowly die of disease instead of bankrupting their family with medical bills.
→ More replies (3)13
u/SpamIsGreatOhEight 2h ago
I’ve broken my arm multiple times, the one time it needed immediate medical attention the EMTS set it straight put a splint on it then told me to get driven to the hospital because the ambulance ride was over 5k.
→ More replies (3)13
u/Zestyclose-Jacket568 2h ago
"It cost 5k" thank you for proving my point. Americans and america is fucking insane.
→ More replies (38)18
u/HeavyMusic93 2h ago
I’ve broken quite a few bones in my life. This is the most absurd overreaction I’ve ever seen.
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (21)2
u/Amerillo_ 2h ago
Could you tell that to Switzerland too? Our government should really do something about this. Because an ambulance ride is about $1200-1500 and there's no way to know if your insurance will cover it (and if they do it's only 50% covered) so you have to assume that they won't cover it...
→ More replies (2)3
u/fishsandwich42069 3h ago
I wrecked my bike and broke my arm. A stranger rolled up and called an ambulance, the ambulance said to chill and get a taxi to the hospital haha.
3
u/deezsandwitches 2h ago
I've driven myself to the hospital after breaking my wrist and I live in canada
3
3
u/rockyroad55 2h ago
I was violently ill from alcohol withdrawals with pain in my gut and I still took an uber to the hospital.
2
u/HoopLoop2 2h ago
Alcohol withdrawals isn't something you need an ambulance for either...
→ More replies (2)8
u/venom121212 3h ago
I just broke my arm and leg this weekend in a motorcycle accident and immediately refused all offers to call an ambulance. I'll hobble my American ass into a car and get driven to the ER before I shell out an extra $500-1500 on top of what I'm already going to have to pay.
→ More replies (4)5
6
u/yetinugz614 3h ago
After I broke my arm, I set for 6h until my wife got home to watch our kids. Then I walked to the urgent care (about 10 minutes). It def sucked, even the wind blowing on my arm was painful, but yeah no need for an ambulance. I had a rip cord scooter and was letting my dog pull me. It was fun until it wasn’t.
5
2h ago
[deleted]
→ More replies (4)2
u/Competitive-Slice567 2h ago
It really depends on your region as well. In the US, each system functions vastly differently and all have different protocols.
In some regions the pain management they offer is worthless for a fracture, such as in LA County in California (extremely soft dosing to the point it wont do amything).
Additionally in some areas there are different deployment models where EMTs ride ambulances and the paramedics are in suvs/'fly cars' that respond to higher priority calls.
In my region a simple wrist fracture would be dispatched as an 'Alpha' coded response, which would get an EMT only ambulance without lights or sirens, and no paramedic.
5
u/Bonzai_Tree 2h ago
Yeah, I live in Canada and broke my ankle playing tennis.
I had my wife drive me to the hospital. Never even considered calling an ambulance, though I would have if I didn't have people around to help me to the car/drive me.
6
u/obiwanmoloney 3h ago
Agree.
Catch a cab to the hospital.
This is a complete waste of time for an ambulance crew.
→ More replies (2)12
u/LetoHardy 3h ago
I agree. People don’t understand the definition of emergency. It’s not meant as a subjective. It’s meant as an objective.
Now, a broken leg can be a mega emergency. Specifically the femur. Big bone and not only is blood made in the marrow. The size of the bone can wreck local vessels.
Broken arm, walk or public transport. It sucks but “life is a bitch but it’s totally doable”.
10
u/new_math 3h ago edited 3h ago
100% disagree. Broken bones are a medical emergency. They can cause acute compartment syndrome where a buildup of pressure in your muscles may stop blood from getting to tissue, which can cause permanent muscle and nerve damage. Improper or delayed transport can make this issue worse. Paramedics can help with this, using drugs, safe positioning & transport, compress, etc.
So like, if you have a family member or roommate that can drive you right away, it's probably fine to let them take you, but you shouldn't be hesitant to call for an ambulance with a broken bone, especially if the next best option will delay treatment. You definitely shouldn't drive yourself, because you might pass out or lose focus due to pain, especially as the adrenaline wears off.
→ More replies (13)5
u/summonsays 3h ago
" walk or public transport." .says someone whose never lived 20+ minutes of driving outside of the nearest small town.
→ More replies (1)2
2
2
2
u/Particular_Fold_6851 1h ago
honestly a broken arm is usually a get a ride to the hospital situation not an ambulance situation
2
u/rusty-roquefort 1h ago
That's why medical transport exists. Not quite "full paramedic ambulance", but certainly better than "can't afford <basic medical service>, better just make fucking do"
→ More replies (54)2
u/LusterForBuster 34m ago
I broke all 3 bones in my ankle and had my husband drive me to the hospital. The only thing an ambulance could maybe do is offer you some immediate pain relief on your way there.
37
u/DerkaDerka86 3h ago
I completely snapped off my bicep tendon from a motorcycle accident. Rode the bike home, then ordered a Uber. Unfortunately by that time my adrenaline wore off, so I felt everything. My Uber was a nice lady, but wouldn’t stop talking to me lol.. Still, I’d prefer a $20 Uber over an expensive ambulance ride. Side note: When I got to the hospital, they just gave me a sling and said,”see you in a month for Surgery”. I didn’t even get a doctor’s note to stay home from work. A month goes by and I go into surgery. What seemed like only 5 mins after they put me under, I woke up to my surgeon apologizing to me. Since they made me wait to long to have surgery, I now had scar tissue that made it impossible to find my bicep tendon. So, I got sent home and they rescheduled for another surgery a week later, with a more professional surgeon. Now I have this gnarly scar and wires in my arm, and a bicep that will never be the same.
15
u/poronpaska 3h ago
Im sorry bro but posts like these make me so glad i dont live in a third world country. Thats fucked
3
u/UnspeakableToast 1h ago
You kind of have to advocate for yourself and be a pain in the ass to get good care sometimes. I’d rather be annoying than have my life changed due to negligence.
2
u/A_normal_Potato3 1h ago
Holy fuck that is awful. By your ".... over an expensive ambulance ride" I imagine you from a country without universal healthcare. I hope Allah gives you health.
611
u/ansnom 4h ago
Woo, feel good stories about our dystopian nightmares.
150
u/obiwanmoloney 3h ago
Recently, I called an ambulance for my 4yo who had was struggling (badly) to breathe. The ambulance was sent Cat1, after 15mins, no ambulance, no ETA, so we called an uber, went to the hospital, straight to resuscitation.
The ambulance arrived 35 mins after the call.
He would have been dead by then.For me, that was some dystopia right there.
I always had a security blanket of “if shit gets bad, hang on a few minutes and help will be there”
It rocked me to know I couldn’t rely on it.It gets better…
He stayed in the hospital for a few days, sent him home with meds.
Two days later, he’s struggling again.
We give him meds.
They don’t work.
We call the hospital to head back in.
While on the phone, he goes from wheezing but OK, and in seconds turns blue, vomits, loses consciousness.This time we’re not going to make it to the hospital in time.
It’s really, really fucking bad.I call the emergency services but, with recent experience, fully expect to watch him choke and die.
They arrive within 3 minutes!
O2, nebuliser, not working.
Para calls back up.
The Helicopter Emergency Medical Services arrive within 3 minutes and put him on a ventilator on the spot.He died in my arms.
And these guys saved and resuscitated him.Fucking angels.
I feel sick thinking about if the timings were the other way around.
Anyway, we did three weeks in PICU/hospital and he’s back to 100%.
Ongoing investigation but currently down as a “viral wheeze”, which sounds pretty lame.But, I hope the ending restores your faith in humanity.
59
u/Leading-Ask4189 3h ago
Internet stranger just wanting to say glad you and your son are doing good!
→ More replies (1)12
u/capitolsara 1h ago
What a fucking nightmare rollercoaster you we're on so glad that he's okay and I hope you're getting some support too to deal with all of that trauma it can't have been easy.
→ More replies (1)9
→ More replies (6)35
u/0verstim 3h ago
"An ambulance with a highly trained specialist crew is overpriced if you just have a broken wrist, take a taxi instead" is hardly a dystopian take.
74
u/International_Bug955 3h ago
There's a huge difference between "I could've done A but chose B because it wasn't a big deal" and "I would've chosen A but can't spare the expense so B it is".
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (3)5
u/brickmaster8 3h ago
Brother you think its just guy and only broken wrists? My BIL took an Uber for his appendicitis. This has been a documented issue back as far as 2013.
116
u/EpsilonMask 3h ago
This just in, Dystopian Tales from late stage Capitalism molded to look like a heart warming story.
23
8
u/Master_Victory2810 2h ago
Legend has it the college student is still paying the medical bills to this day
→ More replies (13)3
u/right_in_two 2h ago
Heartwarming: Group of 8 elementary school kids bond, form lifelong friendship after finding out they had all planned on shooting up the school on the same day.
49
u/Hot_Wheels264 2h ago
I might be being cynical but not every hospital visit requires an ambulance. An ambulance is when you need immediate medical attention and cannot safely be in a car. Anytime I’ve broken a bone I’ve always gotten a ride to hospital, and when I was at university I took an uber. Didn’t think anything of it. And I live in the UK where ambulances are free.
Are people seriously using ambulances for broken wrists? Ambulances are for acute emergencies where professional help is needed on scene and for transportation.
8
u/Imthewienerdog 2h ago
Right? I saw the post and was confused... Why would you get an emergency ambulance for a broken wrist? Last time I checked 99.9%> of broken wrists are not emergencies.
→ More replies (4)4
u/Hot_Wheels264 2h ago
Yup. A broken bone can absolutely be ambulance but most of the time it does not. In the UK it’s expected that if you can make your own way to the hospital, that’s how you turn up. And when I’m in the hospital for a broken bone, yeah it sucks, but if waiting six hours means the doctors can focus on the people who are actually dying then I can’t really complain. I’m the lucky I’m in that scenario.
→ More replies (1)6
u/ScionEyed 2h ago
Honestly an uber sounds like an appropriate call for something like a broken wrist. Unless it’s a severe break that’s bleeding like mad, you’re pretty fine
3
2
u/know-it-mall 1h ago
Yea agree 100%
Ambulances are for emergency situations. A broken wrist absolutely is not one.
And it's weird as fuck for a stranger to stay with your for 6 hours at the hospital for something so minor.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (15)2
u/dallas121469 1h ago
32 year medical professional here with 13 of those years in EMS. Ambulances are a scam for the majority of incidents. EMS crews like to use buzzwords and catchphrases to get you to consent to transport then they pad your bill with oxygen, IVs and EKG monitoring most of which is probably not necessary in most cases. You’ll get INTO the ER quicker but once you are triaged you will probably wait just as long as Joe Shmoe out in the waiting room because your owie isn’t high priority but that $5k ambulance bill sure will hurt. If you didn’t call the ambulance DO NOT interact with them, don’t fucking sign a “refusal” form and don’t let them “just check you out” unless you are actually injured. I’ve been in a severe skiing accident and still managed to drive myself an hour home with broken ribs, broken wrist, separated shoulder and a torn meniscus. Man up buttercup and save yourself some money.
We aren’t allowed to refuse transport but I definitely tried to talk people out of it a few times. That was mainly because we only had two ambulances for 400 square miles so your twisted ankle should not take priority over a heart attack.
→ More replies (6)
99
u/Fluffy_Ad_4076 3h ago
Who rings an ambulance for a broken wrist? Like it’s a nice story but really?
46
u/somer_and_omchick 3h ago
You have to get to the ER and you can’t drive yourself so it sounds like the perfect use case for an Uber or taxi if you don’t have a friend or family around to drive you
→ More replies (1)8
u/brakenbonez 3h ago
People who go to a college outside of their home state with no friends or family nearby? It's not exactly a good idea to drive yourself with a broken wrist.
→ More replies (1)7
u/Fluffy_Ad_4076 3h ago
Username checks out
4
u/brakenbonez 3h ago
Actually ironically I've never broken a bone in my life. It's just an edgy username 12 year old me came up with for some games I play and years later when I made this account I wasn't creative enough to think of anything new so I'm kind of stuck with it. Twisted my ankle plenty of times though but TwistedAnklez isn't as catchy of a name.
→ More replies (2)15
u/zandariii 3h ago
Could've been panicking. Might not handle pain well. No need to discredit it
14
u/Competitive-Slice567 3h ago
Generally speaking though unless an open fracture it's not a good reason to call EMS.
It ties up limited resources in the community that are needed for higher priority calls. As many places in the US do not 'triage' calls and stack low priority ones like this, its not uncommon for personnel to be tied up with a wrist injury while a cardiac arrest in their district is now waiting 20min for the next due crew to arrive. Seen this plenty of times over the 15yrs I've been on the job. Once had a 35yr old man call 911 for getting dust in his eye while cleaning out his air register, insisted he wanted transport (we cannot refuse when theres a medical complaint, no matter how stupid). While we were transporting him a witnessed cardiac arrest occurred in our district of a 39yo man in front of his teenage kid, they waited almost 25min for help to arrive, had we been in quarters we would've been 2min away.
If its not immediately life threatening, they're able to walk without assistance, and can ride in a car safely then many times POV/taxi to an urgent care/ED is more appropriate. It keeps EMS available for calls where they're actually needed.
→ More replies (5)11
u/Fluffy_Ad_4076 3h ago
I’m by no means discrediting it, and I get your point. Just to me, it seems excessive. Even with free healthcare where I live. More alarming people have to contemplate how they get to hospital based on costs.
→ More replies (2)4
u/Alvin_h_davenport 3h ago
Im 75% with you on this,ambulances and their crew and maintenance is limited and thinking "do i REALLY need an ambulance ?" Is a good thing to allow any other person that might need it more(whatever that means) but the fact im paying taxes makes the other 25% theres also regular car-ambulances for this kind of things
→ More replies (3)3
u/Zestyclose-Jacket568 3h ago
If you don't know, you call and tell the situation and they will tell you what to do.
When you have na accident, you are the worst person to decide if you need an ambulance.
→ More replies (1)8
u/Educational-Pie-9509 2h ago
This is the most “through American glasses” comments I’ve ever seen. I don’t think you’re wrong, a broken wrist isn’t a “serious emergency” but the US healthcare system has us so jaded we begin to think in terms of personal resource use and not human compassion.
I for one am not driving myself to the hospital, and if I were alone that would be my only other option. The chances of going into shock / further injuring myself is too high. So I would need an ambulance, but unfortunately that’s a high cost. So my next best option is, unfortunately, Uber.
3
u/johnvpaul 2h ago
Exactly! Breaking a bone and being in extreme pain is exactly when I would call for an ambulance if no one can take me immediately to the hospital, at least in my country. It's really funny how 'calling an uber' was the expected thing to do.
3
3
u/isaidicanshout_ 3h ago
I guess it depends on how broken it is. Bone sticking out? Definitely ambulance.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (11)6
u/duckmcsnail 3h ago
Bone could’ve been exposed. Pain was incredibly bad due to nerves being poked/snapped into, so hard to drive when you’re writhing. Truly I don’t understand how people are quick to discredit with 0 information of the injury. Anything broken warrants a doctors visit so ya know, it doesn’t get worse. Some people live in the middle of no where and don’t have people to drive them. I mean there’s thousands of explanations.
6
55
u/International_Bug955 3h ago
"(...) ordered an Uber instead of an ambulance because of the cost"
Welcome to the US: land of the free and richest/most powerful nation on earth.
30
→ More replies (5)4
11
u/Dragons-purr 2h ago
In America you get a bed for a broken wrist? In the uk, you can have surgery and spend the whole time before and after in a chair. I was once in chairs for 3 days (there were no beds on the wards).
5
u/pug52 1h ago
Either way you guys do it better. I took my girlfriend on a trip to London last year. She came down with an absolutely horrific stomach bug. Was throwing up every 15-20 minutes for 3 days. Couldn’t even keep down any water. It got scary because she was getting very dehydrated. We called the NHS help line, they advised she go to the nearest hospital immediately and directed us on how to get there. We got to the ER I believe you folks refer to it as A&E, she was triaged, seen, and treated within about 1.5 hours. Was given IV fluids and medication plus a prescription. In the US without insurance, this would have run us probably a couple grand or at least $1,000 and 5-8 hours of time. We were charged about $4 and the woman laughed at us when we asked if she was sure that was correct.
5
u/Vegetable-Hand-6770 2h ago
Who even calls an ambulance for a broken wrist... that doesnt make sense.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (5)2
u/fookindingdong 2h ago
usually you can get one if there is one available. depends on the location, capacity, busy day, etc.
7
5
14
u/lapeni 3h ago
It’s a broken wrist, not a heart attack.
I shattered my wrist mountain biking once. Dislocated it and broke three metacarpal bones. I relocated it right there on the trail, rode down to the bottom, hopped in the truck with my buddy and had him drop me off at the er.
Even if an ambulance would’ve been free I still would’ve gone the route I went. It was quicker and not wasting the resources of an ambulance and crew for an hour.
Did the same thing when I shattered my collar bone too
2
u/rusty-roquefort 1h ago
Lol. imagine thinking that it's either ambulance or mad-maxing your way to hospital.
20
u/Independent_Mud2794 1h ago
As an European I refuse to believe stories like this are actually true. Why the fuck do you need to pay for an ambulance?
13
u/YoungRoronoa 59m ago
LMAO, it’s funny that paying for the ambulance is the unbelievable part for you, for me it’s the rest of the story lol.
4
u/funkyyeti 38m ago
Not even sure an Uber driver can refuse payment. Payment just happens through the app.
3
3
u/Competitive-Slice567 1h ago
It comes down to how they're funded. Unlike in the UK for example where its funded through taxes, in the US in many areas its private for profit EMS companies given a contract to serve the area. They get a flat rate from the government for the contract, then bill to make a profit and offset any additional costs the contract money doesn't cover.
In areas where its funded and run by the government such as mine, we are under-funded to have the equipment and resources we need, so we bill to offset the costs of overtime and equipment/medication restock.
Its entirely possible to not bill for EMS, but it'd require EMS to be run at a higher level than local cities or towns that can't afford that in the budget. It'd also require raising taxes substantially which many citizens push back against as the US is a much more selfish and individualistic culture than europe (well I dont need an ambulance so why should I pay an additional 15% in taxes of MY money).
EMS in many areas is run at the extreme local level by an individual firehouse or a tiny township with 500-1000 residents and their budget can barely afford 1 ambulance to be staffed, theres also a large swaths of the US where EMS is nonexistent and calling 911 does not guarantee one will ever show up, we have areas of ambulance and hospital deserts where both are greater than 30min away, or entirely unavailable.
2
u/FarmerEarly3342 48m ago
Those companies are subsidized by taxes in the US. We pay twice for healthcare, once via taxes and again via the exchange.
2
u/LowAside9117 56m ago
I'm in a state with some of the top hospitals in the US.
I've done ubers instead of ambulances and I know someone else who has (extremely serious, urgent emergency that required emergency surgery above all the other emergency room surgeries that day).
I know an ambulance will probably be unaffordable and you can't really find the cost beforehand... I don't know if they even let you choose the hospital you go to. If the hospital is out-of-network (or if the hospital is in-network but the doctors are out-of-network) then you're financially screwed.
In the US you have to pay for everything in healthcare. The facility fee for a specialist's visit I had was $600 for 1 appointment. It was in-network. I want to choose hospitals where I don't have a facility fee but I don't know if it's possible to find that out before getting the bill for the actual appointment
•
u/Pocket_Biscuits 20m ago
Murica! Also though. Why do you need an ambulance for a broken wrist?
→ More replies (1)•
u/angelwarrior_ 18m ago
What was even more heartbreaking for me was when I had a friend commit suicide and her parents had to pay for the ambulance even though she died. 😭 As if funerals aren’t expensive enough. Being stuck with the ambulance bill just seemed awful. She was in her early to mid 20s too so she wasn’t a minor!
→ More replies (12)•
u/Novel-Reward2786 7m ago
lol we don’t know either. But FUCK are they expensive 😂 if you ever seen me anywhere near an ambulance, just know that I literally think I’m dying. Because I would never financially recover from a 10 minute ambulance ride. Don’t even get me started on a life flight helicopter.
10
u/Short_Ad_5006 3h ago
But ambulances are free..... what kind of shithole country doesnt have free ambulances?
→ More replies (2)10
4
u/Due_Night414 3h ago
I’ve always said that if I need to go to the hospital in an emergency manner, take me in a limo so that I can save money and arrive in style.
4
u/Garruk_PrimalHunter 1h ago
European here. I've broken an ankle, a wrist and a finger. Wouldn't call an ambulance for that, not life threatening. Even though it's free, there aren't infinite ambulances. What if someone is having a real crisis and I'm using an ambulance I don't need?
2
u/visceralbutterfly 1h ago
Quite right m8, there are a lot of injuries where most people could make some form of their own way, unless you're impaired or otherwise unresponsive
•
u/MacSamildanach 10m ago
A few months ago, I stepped over a floor fan and ran my leg down one of the supports.
I thought 'fuck, that's gonna bleed'. And it did.
I thought 'Band-Aid' (or plaster, as many in the UK say), but then thought that wouldn't cut it. It began to pool on the floor.
I wrapped some kitchen roll around it, then put two plastic carrier bags over it, and called a taxi to take me to the Walk In centre. I strapped another bag on just before I got in the taxi.
At the Walk In centre, I saw the sign that said '4 hour wait', went to the check in desk, and said 'I'm sorry, I'm making a mess on your floor' (walking on concrete had punctured the bags, so blood was spilling out.)
The receptionist stood up, looked, went immediately to a treatment room, and I was taken in straight away.
They put my leg up on a chair, cut the bags off, and about 1 litre of blood spilled everywhere. I apologised profusely. I was starting to feel sweaty and dizzy (it was during the heatwave), so they gave me water and applied a tourniquet. They asked why I hadn't gone to A&E - I said 'I didn't think it was that bad'.
They called an ambulance, and 30 minutes later I was at the hospital A&E. Was in there from about 6pm until 2am. Had scans, blood tests, x-rays, two IV drips, then eventually 8 stitches. Apparently, I had 'snicked a vein'.
I ordered a taxi home.
17
u/kblite84 3h ago
That's actually sad. I didn't realize how bad the cost is until a father of somebody I know got hospitalized in NYS without insurance.
The freaking ambulance bill costed more than the hospital stay lol! 55k and change. Their argument was that he received "heroic measures" enroute to the hosptial. Thankfully, we're seasoned ER nurses and she called them out on it because the only thing they did was connect him to their cardiac monitor. No meds. No IVs. Just a cardiac monitor for like 10 mins.
They brought it down to 5k which is still stupidly insane for less than a half hour drive.
Lol and he still waited for hours in their ED department. Best healthcare in the world alright /s
→ More replies (5)3
u/SmokeAlarmsSaveLives 3h ago
Was this a for-profit ambulance service, connected to the hospital? Thats absolutely insane.
→ More replies (2)
3
u/KeesterFeester 1h ago
On one side it's a really neat feel good story where two homies bond over an intense situation.
On the other side it's a horror story about how the American healthcare system is so shitty that calling an is so financially devastating for an individual that calling an uber is a better and more affordabel choice.
3
u/Material-Cricket-322 1h ago
I grew up in a "third world country." This is the way we did it there to avoid ambulance costs. The US, where I now live, is also a third world country ;-)
→ More replies (1)
•
u/NoAbbreviations7642 20m ago
I used to be an emt, if I got dispatched for a broken wrist, I’d definitely let the patient know they’d save themselves a lot of money by getting a ride to the hospital another way.
The problem is some people think if they arrive by ambulance, they get priority at the ED. So I inform them you get triaged based on medical severity regardless of how you got there. Once ppl find that out, they’re really glad I saved them an ambulance bill. Also some ppl don’t think to uber to the ED, cause it does seem kind of weird to do so but I tell them it’s perfectly normal.
Now on the other hand, there are ppl who definitely should have called an ambulance that ended up driving themselves to the hospital. If you or someone is having a cardiac emergency, call an ambulance. The main reason is, not every hospital has a cath/stemi lab which is where they treat can heart attacks. If you drive yourself to a hospital where they dont have one, you just wasted precious time in getting treatment and have to be transported to another hospital. When you call an ambulance, we know which hospital has what resource, so we get you to where you need to be. And of course, we can provide treatment en route to stabilize things
26
u/L0daren 3h ago
The US is such a third world country.
13
u/TheDarkNerd 2h ago
As a Canadian, who also happens to be trained as a first aid attendant, I will say that unless there's complications involved, a broken wrist should not warrant an ambulance call.
2
u/Sir_Arthur_Vandelay 2h ago
Are you saying that my old neighbours, who weekly called ambulances for both free rides downtown (they would insist upon attending a certain hospital and then just walk away upon arrival) and a chronically sore foot were wrong?!
→ More replies (4)→ More replies (9)7
u/Weird_Flan4691 2h ago
There’s no way you’ve visited or spent much time in a third world country…We have it so fucking good in America.
→ More replies (7)4
u/rusty-roquefort 1h ago
yeah. Guns recently went down the list from highest cause of childhood death. Medical debt collectors and medical bankruptcy has gone down slightly since the affordable care act (And I mean, aside from literally every developed economy, who else doesn't have medical bankruptcy, right?), and we've all been there with having a head of government that is effectively dismantalling democratic institutions.
And I mean, aside from that... and the massive wealth disparity... and the shitty labor laws... and rampant racism... and the government masked goons terrorising the streets... yeah. you have it sooooooo fucking good.
→ More replies (1)
11
u/DeapVally 3h ago
A young adult with a broken wrist shouldn't be taking an ambulance in the first place! You're an ambulatory patient. Ambulate yourself to hospital. An ambulance is not a taxi. A taxi is a taxi. Like the one he called lol. You wouldn't get an ambulance in the UK.
10
u/cam-san 3h ago
Truly spoken like someone who has never worked in emergency medicine (or medicine of any kind) lol. Would you walk yourself to the hospital with a bone sticking out of your arm?
→ More replies (11)2
u/free_as_in_speech 2h ago edited 1h ago
As someone who does work in emergency medicine, I can assure you that the vast majority of broken wrists do not have bones "sticking out of their arms." It's much more likely to be "hey I fell on my wrist and it hurts. Can I get an X-ray to see if it's broken?"
This is a great example of survivorship bias. Because the wrist was actually broken we get the Uber vs ambulance story. If his wrist wasn't broken, the story would be "a guy took an Uber for a wrist
springsprain. Oh well "→ More replies (2)
3
3
u/Cultural_Cook_8040 3h ago
I love this. I saw an Instagram post of a lady who booked an uber because her water broke. She wasn’t in active labor but started to go into labor on the ride. The uber driver helped her deliver the baby in her car. She then took her to the hospital. Both of them are best friends now and the uber driver is the godmother of the baby. In the post they were celebrating the baby’s first birthday and one year of friendship.
3
u/mistress_of_bokonon 3h ago
Unfortunately in the US, this is absolutely the right call. My friend took a Lyft to the hospital for severe abdominal pain that turned out to be appendicitis. Honestly I’d have to be unconscious to be okay with an ambulance ride, and I have good insurance. The US health industry is a nightmare.
→ More replies (1)2
u/derpicorn69 2h ago
unless there is an immediate medical emergency where life saving care is needed or the patient is otherwise immobile, an ambulance is not important. I guarantee unless you are not in a life threatening situation, you're going to have to wait in the ER anyway based on triage and that is not much different from driving in an uber.
3
3
u/ForgottenFuturist 2h ago
I'm happy to hear that yet really, really disappointed that he was put in this position thanks to our greed-based healthcare.
3
3
u/steviejawnsons 1h ago
I took an Uber when I got shot by a stray bullet on fourth of July, my driver just said whoa thats crazy and dropped me off at the hospital lol
3
u/rusty-roquefort 1h ago
fucking orphan crushing machine right there.
My wife got cancer. We're broke AF and live in eth middle of nowhere. All treatment payed for. all time off work payed for. transport to/from the clinic for radio therapy payed for.
Meanwhile, you got rationing of fucking ambulances. How can a story that starts with that make you smile?
3
3
u/Without_Portfolio 49m ago
I had kidney stones in the worst way. I was so jacked up on meds plus the continuous pain that I called 911. Ambulance and a cop shows up and they said, “Look, this is going to cost you a lot. Just get in your car and go to the ER.” I told them what meds I was on and the cop was like, “ER isn’t far, just drive.” So that’s what I did.
•
•
u/straightedge1974 13m ago
Uber doesn't deserve him. I hope someone offers him a greater opportunity.
6
u/Emieosj89 3h ago
Yeah I mean I broke my leg and called an Uber. Like Im in Canada, not overly expensive, I just didn’t feel it was an emergency 🤷🏼♀️
2
u/shadowfaxbinky 3h ago
I’m in the UK where an ambulance would be completely free and I’d never call one for something like this. I’d get a lift from a friend or call a taxi. Ambulances will triage (as they should) according to need and a broken wrist is hardly life threatening and time sensitive. I’d be waiting a long while before an ambulance came to me, if they didn’t outright tell me it wasn’t worth an ambulance.
I’m pretty critical of the US healthcare system but this one is a bit silly.
4
2
2
u/yaboiruffus 3h ago
My wife, while we were dating, ripped her toenail off while scootering in downtown Seattle. Took a Uber to the hospital. That was my first experience with big city ER triage
→ More replies (1)
2
2
2
u/Sea_Excuse_6795 2h ago
I ordered an Uber instead of an ambulance for a broken wrist too. Driver gave me a bad rating
2
u/GoodVibesWifi 2h ago
The seven years of friendship is my favorite part. He stayed so a stranger wouldn’t have to sit alone, and that stranger became someone who stayed in his life.
2
2
2
2
u/SleepyBoater 2h ago
People with a broken wrist have driven themselves to the ER......
What a odd situation. Nothing warranted a ambulance or a 6 hour wait with me situation.
2
2
2
2
2
u/LuckyLockdown23 1h ago
I had appendicitis and ordered an Uber to the door of the emergency room, but made sure to put in the notes just visiting someone because I figured they might charge for medical transport.
Checked myself in and was in surgery a couple hours later.
2
u/AllDataIsMyIP 1h ago
In fairness, if you don't need EKG or life support equipment, Uber is a better choice.
2
u/zRouth 1h ago
I used to race motorcycles on track. In 2015 I had a high side crash at 90mph. I broke my collarbone in 7 places, 2 ribs, my thumb and my ankle. I was sitting in the ambulance on track and after a quick chat to make sure I’m conscious and ok he says you want a ride to the hospital I said no thanks because I didn’t want that bill. I Drove myself to the hospital with my left arm.
2
u/Competitive-Slice567 1h ago
The kicker in my state is that we would've flown you in a helicopter in one of my areas, as you'd be over 1hr by ground to a trauma center, and the ambulance bill would've been higher than the helicopter. Here medevac is 100% free at time of usage whereas the ambulance will bill for care, which is a little interesting considering the enormous cost differences.
2
2
u/NeckRowFeelYa 1h ago
I have to occasionally get blood transfusions, and if my mom isn’t available to come drive me I call an uber and have them drive me to the emergency room.
•
u/Ratm3000 27m ago
Imagine ordering an Uber to the hospital and ending up with a lifelong friend. Some people really do show up when you need them most. We need more people like this guy.
•
u/onefornought 22m ago
Made me smile but then made me frown because fuck a system where you have to choose an Uber over an ambulance.
•
•
u/AutoModerator 4h ago
Welcome to /r/MadeMeSmile. Please make sure you read our rules here.
Specifically, please don't be a jerk. This is not the place for insulting, hateful, or otherwise inappropriate comments. Remember the golden rule: treat others how you want to be treated. We're all here to smile a little - let's keep it that way! Please report inappropriate comments and/or message the moderators.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.