[GeorgeWashingtonsGhost]

I recently witnessed a total of NINE rescue personnel arrive in response to a woman’s call to be taken to a hospital for an injured shoulder. NINE people, three of whom were paramedics + SIX FIREMEN. What a joke. I kept asking them “Do you really need all of these people and trucks? No wonder cities are going bankrupt.” There were not happy about me being there. LOL

[Clay Moore]

I am not sure why they sent that many but we usually respond with 5 + any students riding out with us.

We send the Engine company to help lift patients. Weight and poor health go hand in hand. If it is a bad trauma or CPR, or something that may well go bad quickly, there may be 3 or 4 plus the patient in the back of the ambulance.

If you pick up enough 300+ lb patients it takes a toll on your back. I am reminded of that constantly.

[Osage Orange]

I'm in the health care biz....I've seen patients brought to the hospital on a pallet...in the back of a truck.

Then weighed out back of the hospital at the loading dock. Because the patient couldn't be handled through normal channels..and couldn't be weighed in the hospital proper.

That said...first responders can't know what they are going up against. I've had 500 lb. people on the floor bleeding...You know how many people it takes to lift that person back to a bed?

I've had plenty of patients 500 to 900 lbs..in the hospital. Sometimes we get overhead hoists to move them.

It ain't pretty...........