Don't ever hesitate to call an ambulance

[b2tf]

I'll just clarify at the start that this will be a long post but it is for a reason.

Last Tuesday I got a call from my mum saying that my dad was in hospital after waking up in pain early that morning. My dad had a heart attack about 2 years ago so I was worried but he is also the strongest healthiest person I know so I was hoping nothing serious.

When I got to the hospital I was told my Dad had had a stroke and was being rushed to St Vincents in Sydney with a bleed on the brain. He is 69 years old and apart from his heart attack and prostate cancer about 12 years ago has never had a health issue - not even a cold or flu. He is up there now with at least one more operation and the prospect of a long rehab, the upside is that he is able to walk and talk and knows what is going on.

The doctors told us that what probably saved his life is the fact that mum did not hesitate to call an ambulance straight away. The only symptoms he had were a really bad headache (and for dad to actually say something it had to have been bad, he's that sort of bloke) and he was unable to move his left leg to walk properly, this was enough for her to realise what was going on on and thus she called an ambluance straight away. The sad part is that the doctors told us too often people don't want to 'be a hassle' and dont say or do anything, and the outcome is either severe impairment from delays in treatment or death. The really frustrating/strange/awful part about this is that there were no symptoms, no warnings - I literally had lunch with him less than 24 hours before this happened there was not even a sign of a single thing being wrong.

We are facing a very long road in terms of recovery and it basically defies all the logic I have to see my dad the way he is. I would never wish this on anybody so I guess this is just a simple story with the reminder that no matter what the issue, never be afraid to do what you have to for family or friends - it literally might save their life.

[GasoLane]

Well he wont have any worries at Vinnies, The Dragon Lady spent 10 fun filled days there a while ago (open heart surgery and bypass).

Are you up there or at home ?

[DBourne]

Sorry to hear mate. Hope your dad makes a full and speedy recovery.

[DJM83]

I was in the same situation as you a few years back mate, heart condition is in my family. My pop had 2, the last one claimed his life.
November almost 3 years ago i got a call saying my dad had had a heart attack and was on his way to Melbourne in air ambo. Needless to say the geographical difference between me and my fam worried me that day. So off of went thinking the worst.

My dad hesitated in calling the ambulance a few hours went by before he decided he should, any longer and the outcome could have been much, much worse. He has somewhat recovered thankfully
Wishing your dad all the best in his recovery mate and i hope all goes well. Its not a fun thing to deal with thats for sure.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by DJM83

I was in the same situation as you a few years back mate, heart condition is in my family. My pop had 2, the last one claimed his life.
November almost 3 years ago i got a call saying my dad had had a heart attack and was on his way to Melbourne in air ambo. Needless to say the geographical difference between me and my fam worried me that day. So off of went thinking the worst.

My dad hesitated in calling the ambulance a few hours went by before he decided he should, any longer and the outcome could have been much, much worse. He has somewhat recovered thankfully
Wishing your dad all the best in his recovery mate and i hope all goes well. Its not a fun thing to deal with thats for sure.

My old man is a retard, he had a gangrenous gall bladder, the pain was so bad one morning he thought he was having a heart attack, but instead of calling the ambulance he decided to have some water and try wait it out.

After about 2 hours it got so bad he had to call the ambulance, had of he been having a heart attack I don't think waiting 2 hours would have been the best thing to do.

He doesn't think sometimes, something as serious as a heart attack don't wait.

[Madaya]

One of the lads at work had a close one.
A few months back, on days off, he was suddenly hit by a severe pain in his shoulder.
He was outside in his backyard at the time and fortunately, his neighbour was there. He told his mate to call the ambulance. He realised he was having a heart attack. He's about 50 years old.
What helped was the man was an Emergency Response Officer at work. Well rehearsed in the warning signs of heart attack.
He's back at work and well. Would have been tragic to lose a much respected workmate.

[poppa smurf]

minutes are vital.........wish you all the best.

[hawkgirl]

the holden Drivers old family friend suffered a stroke at home. The sad thing is his wife (a nurse) recognised the symptoms, but he wouldn't allow her to call the ambos - needless to say she did (eventually) but the time lost meant the outcome was not all it could be -he walks & talks okay, but tires easily & how will i put it.... he's not always there & someone else (who's very dark) is? Very Offputting.

b2tf, please dont hesitate to shout out if you need anything from us sydneysiders

[something wrong]

My father (ex Ambo and was working at RPA) was having bad ingestion at 2am and thought his ulcer was playing up so he started drinking Mylanta and chewing quickeze, he went to work each day, by the 4th day mum had enough and at 3am took him to concord hospital, the Dr hooked him up and he was having a small heart attack. They found 4 Arteries blocked around his heart plus the two on his neck and on Xmas eve they did bypass surgery. He recovered well but three days later suffered a massive stroke and is paralyzed on the right side. 12 months of rehab and his speech is back and he can sort off walk, and limited use of his right arm / hand.
Thankfully he is still here and now able to look after his self but my poor mum has aged with the stress and extra workload.

[zilo]

According to the ambos I called ..

it's all about getting the blood thinners in to the patient quickly enough to stop the damage to the brain resulting in paralysis.

the first hour is critical.

that's it summed up in a nutshell.

[tut0r]

Blood thinners? I guess some asprin may be the home remedy to give someone quickly once the ambos have been called.

[Trump]

To the OP, I wish your dad a speedy recovery.

I know a lot of people don't call the ambulance simply because of cost. They don't have membership nor private health insurance and put the cost ahead of their health.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Loud_Noises

To the OP, I wish your dad a speedy recovery.

I know a lot of people don't call the ambulance simply because of cost. They don't have membership nor private health insurance and put the cost ahead of their health.

Ambo membership is cheap.... about $70 a year for the family!

Probably the cheapest insurance around.

[Trump]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Ambo membership is cheap.... about $70 a year for the family!

Probably the cheapest insurance around.

I totally agree, there are a lot of people (some I know personally) that will see it as $70 in their pocket... Sad but true.

[Dalonian]

I'm a paramedic down in Victoria, and with strokes if you can get to an appropriate hospital with a stroke centre within 4.5 hours you have a decent chance to try and break up the clot.

Unfortunately all to often elderly patients who are actually sick will tell me that they don't want to be a bother when they are generally the people that need us the most.

It sounds like your mum is very switched on and did exactly the right thing.

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Originally Posted by Loud_Noises

I totally agree, there are a lot of people (some I know personally) that will see it as $70 in their pocket... Sad but true.

Or truth be told, on a carton of cigarettes or another slab or bottle

[Charliewool]

Ambo subscription should be compulsary for all over 18s..
EVERYONE... No exceptions.. It is a miserly $40 a year in Vic! (And if everyone paid, probably less)
Qld, I think is compulsary and paid thru electricity bill?

[MNM96]

Originally Posted by Charliewool

Ambo subscription should be compulsary for all over 18s..
EVERYONE... No exceptions.. It is a miserly $40 a year in Vic! (And if everyone paid, probably less)
Qld, I think is compulsary and paid thru electricity bill?

It is just a payment added to electricity now in QLD, It doesn't even show on the bill. It is like Ergon support the QAS, and we all pay.

Still amazes me how many people wait to call, particularly the elderly, because they don't want to be a bother!

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Charliewool

Ambo subscription should be compulsary for all over 18s..
EVERYONE... No exceptions.. It is a miserly $40 a year in Vic! (And if everyone paid, probably less)
Qld, I think is compulsary and paid thru electricity bill?

A couple of people I've spoken to thought it was covered by Medibank, so it might be just ignorance not cost as to why more people aren't in it.

[zilo]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

A couple of people I've spoken to thought it was covered by Medibank, so it might be just ignorance not cost as to why more people aren't in it.

The only ignorance is people confuse Medibank with Medicare.

Ambulance membership is fully covered in our terms and conditions with Medibank..


Although...why should I pay anything at all for a state government tax payer funded ambulance service?

Don't I pay the Victorian govt enough?

It's all BS this ambulance membership stuff, all because of underfunding by state governments...and just as stupid as working bees and lamington cake stalls at the state schools.

[uniacidz]

Yeh always call if somethings not right. Doesnt matter if on medicare or private health. Just do it

Similar situation to DJM83, my mother called for an ambulance as dad suffering from constant angina. (diabetes related)
Ended up being in CCU with head of departments around him but unfortunately passed away after a couple days in hospital but he had been in the utmost care.

Life is too short, dont hesitate.

[Charliewool]

If your in private health insurance, ambulance is "partly" covered..
Usually on the basis of being covered if full hospital admission is required only.

[Charliewool]

Zilo.. Check medibank ambo cover.
If your not admitted medibank private don't cover you.

[zilo]

Originally Posted by Charliewool

Zilo.. Check medibank ambo cover.
If your not admitted medibank private don't cover you.

On your advice I did.

If I call them and they recommend to go to hospital I am covered.

If I insist and the hospital deems it was not an emergency then I pay extra.

Seems fair enough to me...why would I go against the advice of the ambulance paramedics?

I assume people have called ambulances for a headache and abused the service?

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by zilo

I assume people have called ambulances for a headache and abused the service?

Almost, I've spoken to a couple of our local Ambo's and it seems that people have called for an Ambulance simply to (hopefully) get to the front of the Que at the Hospital

[Dalonian]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Almost, I've spoken to a couple of our local Ambo's and it seems that people have called for an Ambulance simply to (hopefully) get to the front of the Que at the Hospital

Happens all of the time, whether you go by ambulance or not, if it's not serious you will still end up in the waiting room of the emergency department.

[sgt_doofey]

I'm not sure what the go is in other states, but here in SA, you'll only be charged if the ambos load you in the back and transport you somewhere. This is what I was told as part of my St Johns First Aid course.
Don't let cost be a part of delaying calling the ambos. Is it really worth your life?
As a first aider, one of the first things you're taught to do is to call 000. There are trained paramedics on the end of the line to assist you until the ambulance arrives.

As for your private health cover, check to see what level of ambulance cover they provide. Are you covered if you need to take a chopper ride? What about hospital transfers?

[nstg8a]

This also is the case if your experiencing issues yourself, I lost my dad to his second heart attack because he was too stubborn to call an ambo.

Was out walking and had what they think was a mild one, walked home sat down and had another one, waited a bit longer didn't feel any better so he got up to have drink, and had a massive one. Dialled the ambo himself (home alone, mum was actually already in hospital with angina issues) but couldn't say anything other than a few grunts so they sent cops as well as two ambos.
Paramedics said he was conscious and talking in the ambo until he had another turn.
he died in the ambo and they bought him back, then he died for good in the emergency room.

Worst phonecall of my life. Pretty horrible feeling knowing a loved one died alone.