We need more people manning our 999 emergency lines.
There was an elderly women with a heart attack this morning. I called 999 for an ambulance a few times without any answer.
Not wanting to wait any longer than what felt like an eternity, some passerby decided to drive her to the hospital.
I called 999 at 630 am. If they cannot answer my calls at 630 am, then I pray nobody calls them during peak hours in the evening and afternoon.
The elderly lady was lucky there were good samaritans around to help. What about those in the rural areas without their own transport or perhaps the disabled? How long does it usually take before help arrives?
Some will keep the local hospital and police station numbers to prevent similar instances, but what happens when you travel somewhere else? Or how many of us actually remember the telephone number to the hospital, or the police station for that matter? In shock, the first number indoctrinated into our mind since young is 999.
If a pizza delivery boy can deliver your pizza within 30 minutes or your money back, why can’t we expect something even better from our emergency services?
There is no point throwing money sending men into space, when we cannot even provide a decent service to send the poor to the hospital, or send a patrol car to those in distress.
History will judge us on how well we treat the less fortunate. Everything else is disposable.
One Response to “Lifeline, or the last call?”
I have also had “experience” with 999. In situations involving all three medical, fire and police emergencies. I have not ever been successful with the number and all the time it was a kind neighbour/I that had to handle the situation, fortunately with success. If there was no immediate response from a kind soul one wonders what may have happened.
In one of the instances I saw two people starting to take off tyres of cars parked outside my apartment at 4am. I tried to call ’999′ 2-3 times but to no avail…finally I had to muster enough courage to open my window and yell loudly at them which fortunately sent them running.
Yes, Doc, if only 999 were pizza delivery the world would be a safer place..