[madison10]

The way things are done—would have been better for the hero money-wise to allow the kid to drown—hero’s conscience would not have allowed it.

Where are the kid’s parents? Aren’t they going to help out?

[BipolarBob]

So exactly why is it the lifeguards bill when it was the 12 year old drowning swimmer that had the medical attention? What am I missing here? If I stop to help a stranger with their car broke down am I liable for a tow and mechanics bill?

[ontap]

Pretty poor for the ambulance co and the rest to send this guy a bill but that's what they do ..they assume you have insurance. they should be forced to give an estimate of the cost. I was told my wife needed to be airlifted of course I said OK. I beat the helicopter to the hospital by five minutes.....Bill over $8,000. No More!!!

[moovova]

Could workman’s comp figure into this in any way?

[suthener]

I recently went through EMT training. I had to do two shifts with an ambulance service. What I already knew but had reinforced was this: if you are not actually in the process of dying, don’t call the ambulance. You probably won’t get to the hospital any quicker (at least where I live) and you will get a bill for around $600 to $700. In my very limited experience, the ambulance may very well be tied up taking someone to the hospital who “doesn’t feel good”.

[muir_redwoods]

Whoever called the ambulance owes the bill. If the kid didn’t call the ambulance and didn’t approve the charge, he owes nothing for the ride.

[napscoordinator]

I don’t see a problem with this story one bit. He did save a kid which is great but he went to the hospital and needs to pay up. What does he think? He should get to go free? People do things everyday that are considered great and end up in the hospital and must pay for the bill or the insurance company. Goodness what is going on with America when we have people complaining about such things. I guess he is a big government lover who expects the tax payer to pay his bill.

[rmlew]

He went to the ER adn was checked out. Sorry, but he pays.

[I Drive Too Fast]

To save further freepers from jumping to conclusions, lets look at the facts from this misleading headline.

The 12 year old nearly drowned.
The 17 year old lifeguard jumped in and saved him.
The 17 year old lifeguard complained of a headache and ALSO went to the ER for treatment.

Voila, that is where he got a bill for nearly $2,600.

Disclaimer - I HAVE also misread or not read articles too. Hey, nobody's perfect ;-)

[iowamark]

All children and certainly all paid lifeguards should have health insurance.

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

I say F’ those who sent him the bill...especially the ambulance...totally out of line. And this is in Vancouver...just wait until the full effect of Obamacare hits us here...

[Sloth]

Who goes to the hospital in an ambulance for a headache? Pay up, dude.

[Cyber Liberty]

Too bad they didn’t wash ashore dead a few miles north. It would have been free.

[Jack Hammer]

Two thousand bucks for a fifteen-mile ride in an ambulance?

He’d have been better off to hire a limo and a couple of hookers.

No wonder everybody’s screaming about the high cost of healthcare.

[taildragger]

We should take up a collection for that amount and he should pay it in person after having it converted at a large bank Into Rubles, or Wan or some other Socialistic currency.....