When Would you call an Ambulance

[grandmoon]

Some friends were surprised that after my OH had a fall I didn't call for an ambulance instead (as I don't drive) I call a taxi to take him to the hospital.

I don't and still don't think I was serious enough to call an ambulance.

What would you have done.

[*mrgrizz*]

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@lind9650 wrote:

You are right, Richo.

Not long ago I needed Hospital attention. First of all it took the Ambulance half an hour to arrive. OH could have driven me there in five minutes.

Then, because the Ambo forgot to record my Pension number, I got a bill.

$4,700.- for a three Km drive.

Erica

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is that $4700 a typo?

[polksaladallie]

Apparently the cost for the fire brigade false alarm calls can get pricey like that.

Current charges and codes

Current Charges for False Alarm Calls (as of 1 July 2012- no GST applies)

Fees and charges for false alarm attendances are made in accordance with the Metropolitan Fire Brigades (General) Regulations 1994 (the Regulations).

Reg. 62 states in part: “The fees and charges… shall be payable for each appliance in attendance for each quarter of an hour (or part thereof) during which the appliance is absent from its station.”

The rate is published in the Third Schedule of the Regulations. As of 1 July 2012 the rate chargeable is $489.00 per 15 minute or part there-of as stated in the Regulations (no GST applies).

Below is a table for easy reckoning.

Time -Hours	Charge - Dollars
00:15	489.00
00:30	978.00
00:45	1467.00
1:00	1956.00
1:15	2445.00
1:30	2934.00
1:45	3423.00
2:00	3912.00
2:15	4401.00
2:30	4890.00
2:45	5379.00
3:00	5868.00

[grandmoon]

Service Cost

Emergency ambulance service (treatment and transport)	$880(+$12/km for every km travelled outside the ACT)
Emergency ambulance service (treatment not including transport)	$611
Non-emergency ambulance service (treatment and transport) by an Ambulance Paramedic or an Intensive Care Paramedic	$629 (+$12km for every km travelled outside the ACT)
Non-emergency ambulance service (treatment and transport) by Patient Transport Service resource	$228(+$4.90/km for every km travelled outside the ACT)

These are the charges in the ACT

[daydream**believer]

When i dislocated my knee years ago, i had to get an ambulance to the hospital. We didnt have ambo cover so at first i told hubby not to call and that he could drive me to the hospital. But i was in agony and couldnt even move to get off the ground so hubby called.

The 6 min drive to the hospital cost us approx $680.00

We got ambo cover after that.

It costs me $48 for the year for the family.

So yes, if one of us has an injury that was causing a lot of pain, i would call an ambulance

[azureline**]

Queensland has ambulance cover now paid by the Government, lol. We used to pay in our electricity account. Pensioners in all states are covered, I believe.

[lionrose.7]

Yes paid in Elec account when I was in QLD

[twinkles**stars]

Call an ambulance without hesitation.  An older person may have a serious unseen injury. Personally I have called 1 twice. First time they agreed it was the right thing to do when a set of drawers fell on my grandson. He was ok and the drawers are now fixed to the wall. Second time my daughter who lived 50 minutes was unwell and her voice slurded. Ambos arrived finding her semi concience and were en route to the hospital by the time I arrived....she spent a week I  hospital. So both times it was the right choice. Better to be safe than sorry.

[punch*drunk]

Never had to call one myself but a few months ago I visited my neighbour and found him terribly sick, he wouldn't let me call an ambulance and I didn't want to distress him further so I went and got another neighbour to deal with it. The guy is a bit of an eccentric hermit and doesn't like people interfering, the other neighbour has been much closer friends with him over the years and was able to deal with him a bit easier. He had pneumonia and probably at least 1 heart attack and spent more than a week in intensive care.

So I guess if my other neighbour hadnt been home I would have had to call them myself, it was pretty serious. I've only been to the neighbours house 3 times in 12 years, if I hadnt picked that particular day to drop in he'd probably be dead.