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EMS Delays
My question involves injury or loss that occurred in the state of: Michigan
To make a long story short my son almost died at the age of 2. I called 911 they told me there were no available units and told me 45 minute wait. I told them my sons eyes were rolling in the back of his head and they said IM SORRY! Luckily 2 police officers showed up and rushed him to childrens hospital where the trauma team was waiting. It has been years and I just still cant get over that, wondering if this is happening to other kids! The officers were great and we talked alot. During the time we talked they told me that they were dirrecting traffic but were told not to go they said they heard over the radio that it was a young child and decided to go anyway. Thank god because he would be here today if it wasnt for them "not listening". So my question is? Is it legal for a city not to dispatch a unit or tell you 45 minute wait?
Thanks
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Re: EMS Delays
I doubt that municipal governments guaranty response times, nor should they, and is probably immune from liability anway. If not, I'll be a millionaire today already.
My late father-in-law sufferred a heart attack, which resulted in stoppage of oxygen to his brain, and lived. The damage to his health was immiense and was due mostly to a 30 to 40 minute wait for an ambulance as they happned to be backed up at the time, and nothing was available.
For the last 15 years of his life, he was paralyzed on one side, has no short term memory, and behaved more like a 10 year old. We didn't put him in a home, so it was over 15 years of hell for his wife.
We were told that would not have been the case had the ambulance got there in 15 minutes.
If your theory holds water, I can see when small towns and cities get hit by a tornado, flood, or earthquake, hundreds or thousands get injured, and then be sued left and right for not having enough ambulances to get to everyone in 10 minutes.