Family Emergency. How fast would you go? Be honest.
Discussion
wiliferus said:
If it had been a genuinely life threatening situation, speeding tickets would have been inevitable...
She was already receiving professional medical care and her (step) parents turning up within "x" minutes wouldn't have made the slightest difference to how the doctors and nurses acted.
I'm amazed at the ignorance and blind trust placed in the ambulance and PTS services ... The response times are not good and if you look at the stats for what makes it to the most critical patients within the 8min response time you'll be surprised ... That's Assuming that you have conveyed the ailment effectively to the call handler and been assigned the highest priority call (it's a word search based tool) ... I've personally known of calls that should have been 8mins responders allocated to within 24hrs times ... I appreciate being clinical I have a different perspective but people need to open their eyes more ... Plus ambulances aren't legitimately allowed to speed, think about it, when was the last time you saw a a blue lighter ambulance blazing along to get to a patient (or hospital)
X5TUU said:
I'm amazed at the ignorance and blind trust placed in the ambulance and PTS services ... The response times are not good and if you look at the stats for what makes it to the most critical patients within the 8min response time you'll be surprised ... That's Assuming that you have conveyed the ailment effectively to the call handler and been assigned the highest priority call (it's a word search based tool) ... I've personally known of calls that should have been 8mins responders allocated to within 24hrs times ... I appreciate being clinical I have a different perspective but people need to open their eyes more ... Plus ambulances aren't legitimately allowed to speed, think about it, when was the last time you saw a a blue lighter ambulance blazing along to get to a patient (or hospital)
I don't think that many of the contributors to this thread are qualified paramedics so their presence at the scene would have minimal medical benefit. Impasse said:
I don't think that many of the contributors to this thread are qualified paramedics so their presence at the scene would have minimal medical benefit.
Precisely. At best I'd be useless, and at worst I'd actually make things worse by bungling things. Plus, if there was any blood involved I'd probably pass out and need medical attention myself.
I really am a big girl's blouse with things like this and am best off well out of the way. Indeed, I make blouses look manly.
I think most of the answers have already come on this thread; I understand those that say "leave it to the emergency services" but of course that is dependent on call out times and location (pizza delivery companies usually have quicker responses!).
Going back to the OP- late at night, minimal traffic, and something seriously wrong, then hell yes, I would drive quickly. This would certainly mean breaking the speed limit, likely by a considerable margin, but without trying for a qualifying lap or driving on the edge of my abilities. That said, I would slow for speed cameras that I know about, and I doubt I'd go through red lights either.
When my wife went into labour (at 1 am) I had to get her to hospital; this is the only time she said "you can go as fast as you can, I'll make an exception this time". With nothing on the road, we got to the hospital reasonably swiftly, but comfortably and without any undue risks. But the speed limit was certainly not observed!
Going back to the OP- late at night, minimal traffic, and something seriously wrong, then hell yes, I would drive quickly. This would certainly mean breaking the speed limit, likely by a considerable margin, but without trying for a qualifying lap or driving on the edge of my abilities. That said, I would slow for speed cameras that I know about, and I doubt I'd go through red lights either.
When my wife went into labour (at 1 am) I had to get her to hospital; this is the only time she said "you can go as fast as you can, I'll make an exception this time". With nothing on the road, we got to the hospital reasonably swiftly, but comfortably and without any undue risks. But the speed limit was certainly not observed!
Twice with my daughter. Once with meningitis as a baby, amazing how quick they go downhill and into a coma. Second time with a severe nut allergy. Jabbed with epipen and taken straight to hospital. Both runs were quicker than the ambulance could get to us.
The time we did call an ambulance we were giving mouth to mouth and heart compressions for 25 mins to my father in law whilst we waitied. I was in no fit state to drive for some time after that both physically and mentally.
The time we did call an ambulance we were giving mouth to mouth and heart compressions for 25 mins to my father in law whilst we waitied. I was in no fit state to drive for some time after that both physically and mentally.
Black_S3 said:
Exactly. The police, paramedics or fire brigade will be there faster than you and better equipped to deal with the problem on arrival.
Seriously? Not in my experience in a rural location. Ambulances usually around 1 hour for a 12 mile trip from the nearest town, have seen them take 2 and a half hours to reach a mountain biker with a broken back. Fire brigade at least 45 minutes and we're lucky to see the police the same day.
vanordinaire said:
Seriously? Not in my experience in a rural location. Ambulances usually around 1 hour for a 12 mile trip from the nearest town, have seen them take 2 and a half hours to reach a mountain biker with a broken back. Fire brigade at least 45 minutes and we're lucky to see the police the same day.
zarjaz1991 said:
Silent1 said:
The sentiment is good, the way it's written leaves a lot to be desired.
Well I'm not going to beat about the bush. I've no time for people who think they can simply drop all of society's rules and regulations and put people's lives at risk just because they happen to think it's necessary. Someone has to scrape the bodies off the floor. Someone's family gets torn apart. All because someone panicked and decided normal rules of living can be dropped on a whim. Does the idea of a highly stressed, panicking person with average driving skills at best, suddenly driving through residential areas at more than double the speed limit because of a 'medical emergency' not fill you with abject terror? Because it does me. Some of the posts in this thread are truly terrifying.
I got a call last year from a stranger telling me my partner had been knocked off her bike and couldn't remember anything/wasn't fully conscious. I got there before the ambulance and I was 6 miles away and a mile from my car when I got the call. Did I stop for anything? Nope. Did I even look at the speedo during the drive? No.
In situations like that, you drive as fast as road conditions permit, and you treat red lights like stop lines, and you wind your windows down and scream at other traffic to let you merge so you can get there quicker. I don't think I would have done it any differently if I had a chance to do it again. As it happens, getting there before the ambulance was very useful, as they needed to know certain medical details that she was unable to provide, being largely unconscious. Fortunately she has recovered fully from that incident. Had I been pulled over, I think I would have had a hard time explaining why I was driving a shiny red sports car like I'd stolen it whilst dressed in greasy overalls but I guess luck was on my side.
In situations like that, you drive as fast as road conditions permit, and you treat red lights like stop lines, and you wind your windows down and scream at other traffic to let you merge so you can get there quicker. I don't think I would have done it any differently if I had a chance to do it again. As it happens, getting there before the ambulance was very useful, as they needed to know certain medical details that she was unable to provide, being largely unconscious. Fortunately she has recovered fully from that incident. Had I been pulled over, I think I would have had a hard time explaining why I was driving a shiny red sports car like I'd stolen it whilst dressed in greasy overalls but I guess luck was on my side.
zarjaz1991 said:
vanordinaire said:
Seriously? Not in my experience in a rural location. Ambulances usually around 1 hour for a 12 mile trip from the nearest town, have seen them take 2 and a half hours to reach a mountain biker with a broken back. Fire brigade at least 45 minutes and we're lucky to see the police the same day.
I see your point that in many cases having a layman there doesn't make much difference and therefore it's not worth risking life and limb to get there before the ambulance. I hope you see my and others points that the emergency services aren't always particularly quick and sometimes it helps a great deal to have someone else there in the meantime, especially someone whom the casualty knows.
I have had to deal with this unpleasant situation twice now. But realized that exceeding the limit, or driving in what could be described as a dangerous manner, (e.g tailgating a driver travelling at less the posted limit, or undertaking them etc) was not going to help the situation, because it could get me stopped by the police, making the journey time even longer, or get me involved in an accident, which could mean I don't get to the hospital in time, or indeed ever, or not in the right way, namely a body bag.
I fully understand the extreme need to get to the hospital as soon as possible, possibly the most extreme need anyone will ever have to go fast in their lives. but two wrongs usually don't make a right.
On my emergency drives, I came up against myopic selfish, dawdling tw*nts, who were travelling well below the posted limit on the outside lane of the dual carriageways I needed to use, and the urge to undertake (or even literally barge the ignorant Tw*nts out of the way) was intense, but in hindsight I believe sticking to the limits, and rules of the road was still the best way to proceed. I would not however condemn outright anyone who was not able to do this.
Unfortunately these events have imbued in me a deep loathing of selfish, arrogant ignorant myopic (because they don't seem to be aware of, or care who is behind them, even police. ambulance and fire engines FFS!) idiots who dawdle down the roads in a world of their own, with the added foulness of believing themselves to be `safe' drivers, just because they are travelling at well below the posted limit. They are nothing of the sort!
I fully understand the extreme need to get to the hospital as soon as possible, possibly the most extreme need anyone will ever have to go fast in their lives. but two wrongs usually don't make a right.
On my emergency drives, I came up against myopic selfish, dawdling tw*nts, who were travelling well below the posted limit on the outside lane of the dual carriageways I needed to use, and the urge to undertake (or even literally barge the ignorant Tw*nts out of the way) was intense, but in hindsight I believe sticking to the limits, and rules of the road was still the best way to proceed. I would not however condemn outright anyone who was not able to do this.
Unfortunately these events have imbued in me a deep loathing of selfish, arrogant ignorant myopic (because they don't seem to be aware of, or care who is behind them, even police. ambulance and fire engines FFS!) idiots who dawdle down the roads in a world of their own, with the added foulness of believing themselves to be `safe' drivers, just because they are travelling at well below the posted limit. They are nothing of the sort!
The thing is nobody else on the road knows you have a personal emergency and wonder what the hell you're doing, a case in point ...me... I had to get to a hospital quickly, but en route a guy in an MR2 decide he wanted to race me even though I had tunnel vision, so I was trying to get to A&E as fast as possible and this guy was hounding me trying to ovetake etc and on a bit of dual carriageway we were both stopped by a couple of motorway cops and done for speeding.
Needless to say I didn't get to the hospital on time and got a lecture from the police about how I'd be no good to anyone if I died getting there. The other guy was clueless to my situation of course and just thought we were having fun.
Needless to say I didn't get to the hospital on time and got a lecture from the police about how I'd be no good to anyone if I died getting there. The other guy was clueless to my situation of course and just thought we were having fun.
Black_S3 said:
Impasse said:
"Phone for an ambulance, love. I'll wait for you at the hospital."
Exactly. The police, paramedics or fire brigade will be there faster than you and better equipped to deal with the problem on arrival.If they came directly from the hospital then they had about 5 miles less to travel than me too.
I fully appreciate our ambulance service, but i no longer automatically think they are faster than bundling a person in a car and gunning it to hospital.
Edited by BuzzBravado on Wednesday 4th May 09:58
I was in this situation a couple of years ago - granddad was terminally ill and needed rushing to hospital at 2am, parents had both had a glass of wine the night before believing it was their first day where they didn't have to worry in the 6 months leading up to it and it was a 50 minute wait for an ambulance (thanks to it being a Saturday night). Rushed to his house, then rushed him to hospital. You drive as quickly as you can without endangering yourself, your passengers or other road users - carefully crossing red lights etc at that time of day and driving flat out isn't an issue as long as you use your brain.
That drive gave him an extra few weeks to live - didn't regret it one bit.
That drive gave him an extra few weeks to live - didn't regret it one bit.
Only time I've vaguely needed to do this was when we were phoned by the hospital to tell us my father had died - when the phone goes at 3AM, it is generally not good news. Unfortunately they'd told my mum first, and she'd gone into complete meltdown - we were 30 miles away in Central London, mum was in Berkshire. Not a lot you can do driving across London, thankfully the traffic was clear, but I'll admit to going well into three figures on the M4 - it was deserted, so perfectly safe.
Living in the South East, ambulances are pretty good at showing up. What they are not so good at is taking you to the right place. My mum had a stroke a few years ago while we were there. If I'd called an ambulance, it would have taken her to the local hospital where her brain would have died on a trolley. I drove her past that hospital and piled her into the nearest teaching hospital where they would have had the CT warmed up and a radiologist on site. Took 15 minutes extra to get her there, but she was being treated several hours earlier as a result. Having worked in that business, I also knew how to get her through A&E very fast - she was sitting there saying "Oh no, I'm fine, I'll wait my turn" .... when the correct answer is "85 year old, history of blood pressure, can't feel her right arm, yeah, agree, emergency, straight in please".
Carving through A&E in the event of a "non-visible" emergency is far more important than carving through the traffic....
Living in the South East, ambulances are pretty good at showing up. What they are not so good at is taking you to the right place. My mum had a stroke a few years ago while we were there. If I'd called an ambulance, it would have taken her to the local hospital where her brain would have died on a trolley. I drove her past that hospital and piled her into the nearest teaching hospital where they would have had the CT warmed up and a radiologist on site. Took 15 minutes extra to get her there, but she was being treated several hours earlier as a result. Having worked in that business, I also knew how to get her through A&E very fast - she was sitting there saying "Oh no, I'm fine, I'll wait my turn" .... when the correct answer is "85 year old, history of blood pressure, can't feel her right arm, yeah, agree, emergency, straight in please".
Carving through A&E in the event of a "non-visible" emergency is far more important than carving through the traffic....
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