Posted on 08/24/2005 4:28:59 AM PDT by franksolich
Two simultaneous accidents were too much for the ambulance service at Blefjell Hospital Kongsberg, but a resourceful bystander helped out with a delivery van.
An unlucky motocross driver took a nasty spill during training at Basserudåsen last Thursday, and a call to emergency services only resulted in learning that another accident was occupying the available ambulance, NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting) reports.
Although Torgeir Lande could not tell how badly hurt the motocross driver was, he could see that the man's arm was dislocated, as was a finger, and one foot was badly injured.
Lande said the victim was in great pain and decided the man had to be taken to hospital at once.
"We got a stretcher from the clubhouse and got him on and managed to fit it in my delivery van," Lande told NRK. "It's a primitive van with no suspension."
"During the ride I could clearly hear that he was having a hard time, but I drove slowly and carefully on the speed bumps," Lande said.
Runar Østerdal at the Medical Emergency Communication Central in Drammen had a different version of the incident. Østerdal said the nearest ambulance had been 30 minutes away and they had originally assessed the motocross accident as not being serious.
"The arrangement was that if they needed an ambulance they would call back," Østerdal told NRK.
The local ambulance service for Kongsberg and Numedal has been reorganized in the past year, resulting in accusations of reduced capacity.
Blefjell Hospital has two ambulances, but one is parked after 3:30 p.m. due to a staffing shortage.
Also, what is the deal about "parking" an ambulance after 3:30 p.m."--like it isn't going to be needed? I thought accidents were random, sporadic events not necessarily concentrated on first shift.
What is the population of the town, I wonder?
Ah, but it's all about MONEY. There never seems to be enough of it. Wonder where it all goes?
This is acctually the place I go skiing every Easter and Winter place with my family. Great winter sport facilities. My parents have a Cabin up there.
Well a bad sentence. I meant every Easter and Winter break that I had in School.
Are there many people up there in that area?
Well this is a little bit outside any major cities and in scarcely populated places. I think it would be stupid to have to many people on payroll there. Just because there might be two accidents at the same time. I agree with the governing parties not on wasting money on this. This is common sense. There are other things to spend money on. likewise I like the Norwegian system of hostpitals to be down to earth. I have been in for instant medical assistant before. I think it works very good.
Another thing that is good is that they dont spend to much money on people to lengthend their life with two months for example. I mean if somebody are going to die and have been living a long good life they should save the last minutes for the family. Two more months is not necessary.
Its a little bit harsh, but the line has to be drawen somewhere or else you can spend infinite money on health care. To be rational and make the best decision for the nation is the best choice. Instead of using for example $200000 on two more months for one person you can treat many others. Sometime brain must win over heart.
Do you have national healthcare or is it private? Just curious as to who makes the decision, the government, the insurance company or the family?
Most hospitals are national, but there are some private hospitals, clinics. Eye doctors, plastic surgens probably spelled wrong etc are private.
Drug stores are private own too
You pay your insurance through your tax. Then you get the "Free" health care. I dont know how it works with the private hostpitals, but I think your employer pays for that or yourself out of your pocket mainly. Never been to a private hostpital just private own small clinics. I thought I broke my nose ones when playing football, but I didnt need surgery.
I've thought about this many times and wondered what I should do if I ever came upon an accident.
Did a little research, and found that most states do have "Good Samaritan Laws" that help protect people who try to help accident victims. This site lists the statutes state-by-state.
However, as this site notes, such laws don't necessarily stop a "victim" of your good intentions from suing you.
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