why are UK and USA ambulances different colors? // + sirens, cost, and more!
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
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To quote Eric Morecambe, "He's not going to sell much ice cream going at that speed."
One of the funniest lines, ever.😂
Love that gag! :)
😅😅❤❤ R.I.P Morecambe & Wise.
Comedy Royalty
I live in Morecambe and there is a statue of him here and our local fans of the football club dress up with a flat cap and a brown long coat😊
I heard that in US ambulances the siren sound is generated by the hospital bound patient, after he or she is given the cost of the journey causing them to scream into a microphone which sends the sounds through a translater gadget that filters it to the outside world as a siren!😂
hahaha! So true.
😂😂😂
Hence the siren sounding like “oh noooooo oh nooooooo oh nooooooooooooooo” 😲
The "translator gadget" is auto tune.
I would have thought it would have been a high pitch scream!!! 😱 🤪🙋♀️🇬🇧
As a UK EMT 4:29 we call this process “Intelligent Blues” which put the use of the siren in the drivers judgment. We quite often turn off sirens when there is reduced traffic or late at night
They also found out that the psychological effect particularly when collecting pregnant women who are about to give birth, They found out the sound of the siren approaching could trigger the baby to come early, So ambulances on the way collecting pregnant ladies tend not to use the siren.
They also apparently keep the siren turned off it the patient is nueorodiverse and the siren could panic them
It’s similar here in Ontario, Canada. The site is used as and when needed. On a stretch of road with good driving conditions the strobe lights will be on but the siren off. As an intersection or denser traffic is approached, then the sir3n comes on. It’s similar with police and fire trucks, though is seems to me that the fir3 trucks are a little more aggressive about using their sirens and other noise makers (such as the loud and distinctive buzzers they sometimes use).
As for cost to use the ambulance, there may be a modest bill sent later. Last time I needed one (many years ago) it was $30, with very relaxed collection.
We have similar protocols in the U.S, here its up to the crew how they run the call transport wise.
In the U.S, when we run code, we are held liable if we are to hit anyone or be hit by anyone regardless of what the circumstance is, its essentially guilty til proven innocent. The reason being is with the lights and siren we are a hazard to motorists. This isn't to say we are not allowed to run code unless authorized but rather that it's beneficial to us to deem transport non-emergent sometimes. Especially traveling on the interstate or in dense traffic. Drivers are like deer, you cannot predict their actions so if its better for us to turn our sirens and lights off we will.
It is absolutely incredible that Air Ambulance transport, complete with a highly skilled doctor and staff, is also free in the UK.
What's even more incredible is that all the air ambulances are charities.
Yes, an uninsured American friend of mine who had a heart attack while in the UK was expecting a ruinous bill for the air ambulance (with a doctor and paramedic onboard) and was amazed when he discovered it was free. He did send the helimed charity a very generous donation when he recovered though.
It is absolutely NOT free…. We pay in advance, through taxation, even if we NEVER use it. It is not free
@@tiggerwood8899 IKEA is a charity (just seen a UA-cam video about IKEA). "Charity" is a mere tax term. But yes, air ambulances are charities, run by public donations and by volunteers, as if the lifeboat service (RNLI).
Well yeah, public emergency services are generally free. That's exactly what taxes are for
It’s always a surprise that US ambulances don’t have a credit/debit card machine to take payment before they set off to the hospital.
Instead, they charge you an arm and a leg.
"Do you have any allergies or PIN numbers?"
They don't have the tech. Their banking systems are years behind even the uk.
@@frankupton5821😂😂
BIG LOL
A friend of mine is part of a UK mountain rescue team. He told me that they once had a call out to an American who had broken his leg. They found him and were giving his first aid when they told him that they were calling a helicopter to get him off the mountain. Within minutes they became concerned as the man's blood pressure shot up, he became pale and started to sweat profusely. They could not understand what was causing it as it was not a bad break. It turned out that the man was terrified that he would be bankrupted by the cost of the helicopter. Once he found out that the whole rescue, helicopter, and medical treatment were free, everything went back to normal. In the UK we would regard it as inhuman to pile financial agony on top of the physical and emotion trauma of being sick or injured.
Most of us would think that would be inhuman, but at least one political party would dearly love to emulate the American insurance-based system that causes so many bankruptcies
In the UK emergency and most other medical care is free *at the point of delivery* - it's not actually free :-) It's paid for by those who pay UK tax (thus, for instance, not prisoners nor those on state benefits nor those who don't work and don't claim benefits). The government is meant to fund the NHS properly and enough i.e. individual taxpayers don't get to pick and choose particular medical areas to fund.
There are a few exceptions e.g. dentistry, eye lenses, prescriptions, where everyone (not prisoners, those on benefits or exemptions etc) contribute a SMALL amount (even if it feels like a large amount) e.g. £12 towards £800 complex lenses. Those aged 60 or over, and those in Scotland of all ages, get free prescripitions (England and Wales, and Northern Ireland? - don't know). You can also get season ticket style discounts for long-term repeated medication. Private providers often waive charges for people severely affected e.g. when I moved regions the new optician waived the eye test fee as I had a strong/complex prescription but my previous optician had charged.
Yes indeed. I've read about some people in the U.S. and in countries with U.S.-style health insurance who end up hoping someone anyone will take them to hospital. If they're lucky, someone does, but that someone merely drops them at the entrance and scarpers to avoid insurance paperwork and the risk of being billed for the treatment. Dreadful - there should never be a situation where money is the main factor like that.
@@richardpoynton4026 And with a rescue dog also by jet pack :-) Shout out for rescue dogs; in the UK these are often co-ordinated by the National Search and Rescue Dog Association e.g. air-scenting dogs, mountain rescue, rubble search dogs.
@@prva9347 38% of benefit recipients are in work, many are making national insurance contributions, although granted this just goes into a general pot. Incidentally, so does VAT which everyone pays, so it's not right to single out those on benefits although I suppose one could make the argument they're not really paying tax. I think that would be unfair though.
Had 2 ambulance rides this year, both followed by a few days in hospital. Definitely glad I'm in the UK.
We in the US don’t want to pay for other peoples healthcare, just like we don’t want to pay for other peoples college tuition.
@@smorris281 We in the UK don't want to be bankrupted by for-profit healthcare and not feeling afraid to access basic healthcare due to the expense.
@@smorris281That’s because you are selfish
My husband had a mini stroke a few weeks ago - I wasn't sure what was wrong with him as he was just acting strange and couldn't speak coherently. I rang 111 and the operator sent an ambulance for him. It arrived in about 10 mins and the ambulance crew/paramedics were fantastic, treating him before setting off for the hospital - they only put the sirens on when we were approaching junctions where the traffic was at a standstill.
And no bill to pay!
You were lucky. We were told 2 hours for a person having a stroke a few weeks ago. Instead someone took them in a car.
You see, or hear rather, ambulances/police/fire doing the same here in Ireland.
$1000-$4000 for an ambulance blows my mind!
And if you look at the invoice, THEY PAD (IMHO cheat) the services billed.
My first thought is that would be multiple months pay for some people... The US system is just broken...
Just pray you don't need a private ambulance in the UK. A work colleague had to move her mother in law from one care home to another 8 miles away. She's an NHS patient, but self funded, so she couldn't get an NHS patient transport ambulance (She has to be moved in her bed or a gurney). For the 8 mile trip, the private transport was £900.
That's honestly largely a big city and air med thing. Most small town and rural services don't charge thousands. The department I am a part of only charges a couple hundred depending on if its in-town or out. Even IFT's are cheap comparatively to say Ambulunz or AMR.
People are not actually paying $4,000 for ambulances in the US. If you have insurance, it pays it and you pay a small deductible. If you have Medicaid or public assistance from the state, they pay. It’s very hard to not have some type of private or public funded insurance in the US. Also, if a hospital or EMS agency sends an insurance company a bill for X amount of dollars, the insurance will usually adjust the bill lower.
Just the cost of a ride in an ambulance in America; $4000 or so, should make folk in the UK appreciate our NHS more than many do. 😮
UK emergency service vehicles typically use sirens with 3 modes: wail, yelp and phaser. The wailing is easier to hear at a distance but is difficult to locate in direction, the faster yelp is only effective at shorter range but is easier to get a bearing on. The phaser is used when they're very close to you and basically means "here I am, get the f*** out of my way!". Incidentally they will keep the lights on but turn off the sirens if they're stuck behind you and you temporarily can't (legally) get out of their way, e.g. at a red light.
Some sirens actually have 6 tones in the UK now - wail (the classic American low frequency to high and back to low again), yelp, two-tone (classic British siren), "slow phaser" and "fast phaser", plus the "bullhorn" which is just a massive blast of horn sound like an airhorn.
@@MrLunarlander watched a police car go through a red light to let an ambulance pass. One rule for them, another for the rest of us
@@howardchambers9679 Yes indeed - the police can direct you to go through a red light.
Personally I'm happy that highly trained police drivers can when necessary break the rules that the average unskilled pleb has to abide by.
@howardchambers9679 Police drivers can treat red traffic lights as give way, have no speed restrictions and can drive either side of a keep left sign. They can also ignore other requirements/laws where necessary in the course of their duties. Because they're the f'ing police and have a job to do.
Worth reiterating that, in the UK, you can't break traffic regulations, to ease the passage of an emergency vehicle. You can't drive on the pavement, into a bus lane, or pull through a red light, for example. The police will charge you, even if you're trying to help them.
Another well researched video Kayln. I read a news story recently where a young women from the US travelling around Europe with her boyfriend had some form of medical emergency in London and was horrified when someone called an ambulance as she was of the opinion that it would have to be paid for like in the US. She relaxed when it was pointed out to her that there is no charge for an ambulance ride in the UK. $1000-$4000 for an ambulance ride, especially where there is no medical treatment administered is just outrageous.
Thanks so much! I think I remember that story as well. It's definitely crazy!
I love the NHS
Your comment on a British Ambulance not using its siren when it does not need too and just uses it's lights is so true from someone who lives near a hospital. I was at the Open in Troon today having a chat about the golf in a pub and an American mentioned he saw someone getting taken away in an Ambulance and asked me how much that will cost her. I said nothing. I said we have universal health care here. He was not happy about that lol.
A couple of contrasting stories about Ambulances in the USA and UK.
In the 1980s we visited New England with the kids with, we thought, adequate travel insurance. My wife had a fit (she'd never fitted before) in the Hotel toilet and an Ambulance was called. They arrived, demanded to see our insurance, then said that they couldn't help as they didn't believe the Travel Insurance covered my wife. (It did) They suggested I get her into the hire car and take her to a charity hospital, turned and walked out. "Not their problem".
As it was, after a night's sleep she was fine. But no thanks to them.
Four years ago I had a life-threatening emergency at home. We called the Ambulance and they arrived within a half-hour, even though we live in a semi-rural area in South Wales.
They examined me, put me into the Ambulance and we took off like a bat out of hell, covering the 30 miles to the Hospital in record time. This was on a Friday morning in the rush hour and we exceeded 100mph, I was told. The Paramedic tending to me also confided that, in her spare time, the Ambulance driver competed in off-road rallies. Obviously I survived but timing was everything.
Guess which system I prefer?
Incidentally the Paramedic told me to never buy an ex-NHS-Ambulance to convert to a camper van. The engines, gearboxes, suspension and just about everything else are completely knackered. As above, they have to go from cold to 100mph in seconds many times in their life and they're basically falling apart when they're sold off.
That's strange because emergency ambulance services in the US are publicly operated (sometimes private operators are contracted) and do not require payment upfront.
@@ballyhigh11 They required proof of insurance.
I Always thought there was a law in America that they have to provide emergency care regardless of ability to pay?
@@lizzyluv96 Apparently not in 1985.
Actually I have bought an ex-ambulance to convert to a mobile Radio Shack (I am a Radio Amateur and volunteer to do emergency radio comms), with occasional camping. But it's a Patient Transport ambulance, not an emergency one, so it has no blue lights or sirens (drat! :-) and has only seats and wheelchair fixings, no stretcher space. Also has a lift at the back so my wife can get in on her mobility scooter. It's yellow, though!
Incidentally, the "battenberg" markings - alternate squares of yellow and another colour, go with the service - yellow/green is Medical, yellow/red is Fire, yellow/blue is Police, yellow/black is Highways agency. I'm going to have to remove the green squares as impersonating an ambulance is not allowed! I'd like to replace them with another colour but I don't think there are any left...
Hi. I’m a 70+ pensioner in South Wales. Over the passed 10 years I’ve called for an ambulance 3 times. When I was a child my dad was a greengrocer & fruiterer with a mobile shop. He used to have an open sided Bedford truck, in the winter we get sideways rain and my dad would get soaked to the skin. I remember dad coming home in the rain and pegging currency notes over the fire hearth. Then, an improvement, he bought an old Morris Ambulance that was about 8 years old. A covered roof, doors with a canopy and fruit & veg displayed in purpose-built units. Lasted for years and dry inside.
I have kidney failure and the Welsh Ambulance takes me back and fore from home to the dialysis unit 3 times a week. As you mentioned these are non-emergency vehicles but white with yellow/green markers and no siren. These have a driver & assistantwith the passenger seat used for wheel chairs. The rear has a pavement side door with a step. Four seats that can be adjusted either to sit on or have a wheelchair fixed with the chairs seat raised. Some will have a stretcher, others 2 more seats. To enable stretcher access the rea door has either a ramp or an electric stretcher wheelchair lift
There is no cost to me but i still pay income tax on my company & state pension.
Money well paid imho
Emergency service vehicles in England and Wales use "Battenburg" two colour schemes, like the sponge cake: Yellow and blue for police, yellow and red for fire and rescue, yellow and green for ambulances. There's also a difference between emergency ambulances - with paramedics - and patient transport ambulances with only a driver.
If you see an ambulance on blues, the way to tell whether it's on the way to a patient, or on the way to hospital with the patient, is to look at the front passenger seat. If there's a patient on board, that seat will be empty because the attendant is with the patient in the back. If that seat isn't empty, there's no patient on board, so they are travelling to a patient.
@@daffyduk77 Not all trips to hospital will be under blue lights. But if there is a patient in the back, there will be an attendant with them. If it is, sadly, a dead body, then it is there will also be a police officer. Not because there is, or may have been, a crime, but as a coroners officer to ensure the corpse is looked after. It's a bit like 'chain of custody' with evidence. (If that's the right term.)
hi, whilst a nice thought, this is not always the case, given that many UK ambulances can have 3 crew members onboard.
@@David-zz4vf Absolutely true. I have been on triple crews, but they are a little unusual, and even then it is usual, when there is a patient on board, for both attendants to be in the back. (Usual, but not always.)
A great many years ago I was actually the driver when there were four 'attendants' on board. Then one of the 'attendant's was in the front with me. But that was a very special case. (I was 28 years St John Ambulance)
Because of 'free' ambulance and health care in the UK many Americans believe we live in a Communist or quasi-Communist state.
Since we don't, that's their problem, not ours.
Only one response to that: nyet, comrade!
It would take a while, in most states to find an American who knows the diference between Communism, Socialism and Social democracy.
@@MrThingummy It would take a long time to find a Yank who had the faintest idea what any of those those things actually are.
@@allenwilliams1306it seems even their left is really a right
In Austria we also have some freedom with the siren, I personally don't use it much at night mostly just at intersections if needed. Most drivers do notices the Blue lights alone pretty well at night. In Germany they have to use the siren more due to the law. In Austria we have the right of way with bluelighs "and/or" siren.
When ambulances were white they did stand out as that was not a popular colour for normal vans at the time. By the time the concept of "white van man" had started they were already adding reflective stripes, flashing lights etc to ambulances. They normally leave the sirens off if there is a clear stretch of road in front of them.
Thanks for the extra info! :)
A few years ago after being knocked down by a speeding cyclist I was transferred by ambulance to the nearest hospital. The route lay mostly along a busy motorway and the driver used the siren intermittently to clear a route through the three lanes of traffic. I had among other things a head wound that concerned them so they were going fast.
Our (UK) original ambulances did not have sirens, they had bells.
@@GirlGoneLondonofficial , siren wise apparently the patience can and do get very worried if the siren comes on because it means it's an emergency and they are at great risk .
You missed out the reflective squares to make them more visible , They are blue for police , red for fire and green for ambulance .
You said in the USA no treatment is given ( quite surprise ) but didn't say that in the UK the driver is at least first aid qualified ( maybe more ) and the second crew is very generally a paramedic .
A lot of ideas for the emergency forces have been adopted from the USA especially the golden hour for treatment .
If the patience are very bad the ambulance will leave the scene very quick but the crew will look at the patience to see if they can help them first and like you said free of charge .
Also of note, if an emergency vehicle is stuck behind cars at traffic lights they are not supposed to use the siren to pressure cars to drive forward of the red light and break the law.
Here in Australia we used to have box style ambulances based on Ford F-series or GMCs. For the past 20 years we've gone towards Mercedes Sprinters van bodies. One of our ambulance services is the world's oldest civil ambulance service, established in 1892. One state at least offers user free services to residents, and in others you can either join as a member and pay a few dollars a week or have it included in your private medical insurance. Our ambulances are generally crewed only by career paramedics, who go through four years of initial training. We're renown for having world class paramedics (let down by hospital ramping unfortunately), and it's not unusual for paramedics to earn over $120k easily and get 8 weeks annual leave. A lot of paramedics are graduating with a double degree in Paramedicine and Nursing. Very easy for a paramedic to get casual work as a Registered nurse in a hospital.
My father belonged to the St.John Ambulance Brigade. Back in the 50s, he would spend one evening a week as a volunteer ambulance driver where the Brigade ran a stand by service for the less urgent cases.
The St John Ambulance Brigade is one of those British institutions that is so ubiquitous that you never think about them or what they do, they're just always there.
@@grahvis Sj is getting more professional these days, in some areas they have taken on the role of blue light runs. I was on sja for a number of years but only did first aid events. The lights had to be covered up when on the road.
I was a volunteer with SJAB until recently. (28 Years!) Absolutely loved it and while most of the time I was only on first aid duties, I was trained as high as it was possible to get for a none professional medical person and did a number of blue light runs. In my case I was almost always the attendant with the patient rather than the driver.
@@billyhills9933like the Sally army. Grand people giving thier best.
On the UK sirens, you miss that UK sirens have an alternative sound - which just starts as you cut away at 1:47. The alternative sound has white noise in it, which doesn't echo off buildings as much as the siren sound. Apparently helps people identify which direction the ambulance is approaching from, to improve safety.
UK ambulances back in the 1980s used two-tone air horns. Modern ones have electronic sirens with variable frequencies, so they have a faster, more urgent sound when they need to warn traffic ahead, bit a slower, less urgent sound when traffic is flowing and they don't need to overtake.
I do love hearing a two-tone Siren, it's rare nowadays, but sometimes, just sometimes a Fire Engine will blast it.
I've noticed locally (Dorset) that I'm hearing more two-tone sirens (electronic, not air horns) than I used to. I live next to a major 'blue light' route between two towns but in summer can't see the traffic through the greenery. I don't think it's ambulances, but one or more of the emergency services is definitely using nee-nahs more. I prefer them and apparently, they're easier to directionally locate for drivers.
An interesting comparison between the two countries again.
Although UK ambulance services are part of the NHS, in recent years more and more of the ambulances on the road- even the emergency response vehicles- are actually sub-contracted from Private Ambulance services. Up to a point this is a good thing- if the NHS is short of vehicles or crews, it makes sense to buy in a private contractor to cover the shortfall. However, we have to be careful that this practice isn't being used to run down the in-house service!
@@6panel300 As I say- there is a place for this in reducing the stress on the system - but it can also be used as a way of privatising a part of the NHS. We need to be aware of what is happening.
The private sector does not keep spare capacity for the NHS. We are simple swapping fixed costs of buying ambulances and paying paramedics for paying for the same things plus an extracted profit. Another way, like PPP, of hiding costs on another budget line.
@@BillDavies-ej6ye I'm talking about ambulance companies which are specifically expanding to cover NHS shifts on a regular basis. It can on paper look cheaper for the NHS to use these rather than expanding their in-house fleet/ staff. Paramedics get paid more for doing a shift for one of these privates services than they do for the NHS- but the private services don't have the on-costs of paying into pension pots that the NHS does.
Like I said in my comment, up to a point, this is a good way of having agency staff cover shortfalls - but if the balance isn't right, then it becomes privatisation of parts of the service by stealth.
@@carolineskipper6976 As a former contractor, you price your service to accommodate looking for other work, certification, sickness, holidays, insurance, and pension. Otherwise you might as well be an employee.
@@BillDavies-ej6ye Yeah, this is exactly what is happening. In my part of the UK sub contracted ambulances have basically become a permanent thing. It's a false economy, but because of the NHS' funding model this is the only way the health trust can cover the service gap.
Seems to me that Paramedics in the US don't care if you die or not, all they want is your money, same with US Doctors and Nurses in Hospitals. If these people got together they could force Congress to change the Federal Laws for free rides to the Hospital and maybe even change the whole health care system as well. Only 8 countries don't have free health care, but only the US has the highest fees subjected on to the people that need medical treatments, hence why many Americans would rather stay home, go to work when injured or ill.
Oh by the way for all Americans reading this, your system is the same as these so called 3rd world countries - Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt, Iran, and South Africa.
Free ambulance ride is socialist, so not to be implemented in the USA.
@@platinaatje6134 Some things go beyond "socialist" and are elevated to "civilised"
Too many politicians in the pockets of Medical insurance companies for anything to change in the US. Who do you think pays the vast amount when it comes to presidential elections
@@carasdawr4752 Not so in the USA.
Don't forget to ask for a bill, so they don't overcharge you, you can lose a lot of the bill by having it show everything they did, and not just random things they throw on it.
For reference, the UK has a 4th Emergency Service, and that is the Coast Guard, whose vehicles also have Blue Lights, and can be connected to Via a 999 call. However, to use the "Blues and Twos" you DO need to be qualified, if I remember correctly.
Coastguard and the RNLI Boats crews maybe
Only the fire brigade, ambulance service, military spec ops, national crime agency (sort of UK FBI), and the police can claim all exemptions for blue light vehicles. All other vehicles can either claim some or none at all, including HM Coastguard.
The first time I heard that there is a charge for an ambulance in America I honestly couldn't believe it. In my naivety I thought that since the police and fire brigade/department is paid for through general or local taxation even in America, ambulances would be financed in the same way.
sometimes the ambulance is part of the fire service, but it is very commonly a private company operating for profit. because capitalism.
What you have to understand about many Americans, is that they think a social system is basically the same as being in a communist country . . . Apart from their health service (if you even can call it a service?) - is unlike their police, fire, teachers, military, libraries, schools (not Uni's), etc, which are all funded by the populations taxes . . . So, being paid for in a "Social" way as a country . . . Only the health is considered to be be non-social, as it's ran in an almost fully private way . . . including through hospitals, admin, and all medicines and drugs . . . Those in the political standing in US government circles are nicely treated by big Pharma and Food, Gas, Oil, etc, via lobbying and other ways - (chunks of free money) - just to keep things going the way that the big businesses prefer and want it to stay . . . Remember the saying in the US about the Mighty $$$ - well that's all that those businesses care about there - not who work for them or who needs their stuff - but what and how much they can make profit-wise from anything annually . . . including their workers health and stress levels . . .
@@KGardner01010 Big money knows where to go to get more big money... need health care, sucker?
My god I had no idea of the cost of an Ambulance 🚑 in USA 🇺🇸 that’s far too frightening.😮❤️❤️❤️.
I'm always impressed with the amount of research you put into all these comparisons Kalyn.
despite being in an ambulance many ,many times, the education you give is very informative thank you xx
Top Gear did a great job of modernising the UK ambulances.
UK is a part of Europe just not a part of EU.
We were part of the EU in the early 2000s.... So we went for a EU style colour
Geographical description British Isles, United Kingdom politically discription. They United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compromising England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland.
@@russellbradley454 Additional information: Geographically, Great Britain, Comprising of England, Scotland and Wales, and Britain, Comprising of England and Wales. Politically, Scotland and England are separate countries, whilst Wales is technically part of England, most people go with it being separate.
A lovely video, most informative, thank you. As a life long brit, I really do enjoy American perspectives on UK life, i'm often so surprised by our parallel differences.
In the late Sixties my cousin bought an old ambulance and converted it into a campervan for his family. He had to paint over the word 'ambulance' but otherwise he didn't change the outside much. It always amused him how other drivers would get out of his way ;-)
A few 'corrections/confirmations' if i may. A friend of mine trains ambulance drivers (used to be a police driving instructor) and gives talks a couple of times a year at my IAM/Roadsmart group...so here goes, based on his knowledge...:
1. Use of sirens in the UK - there isn't a 'general' way sirens are used. There are strict rules behind their use. Once stuck in traffic, the siren must be switched off. Once moving again, it can go on. At night in built up areas, they're required to switch it off after (i think) 11pm and only use lights.
2. Blue lights v red lights: in the UK and much of Europe it is illegal to display red light anywhere other than to the rear of a vehicle - and that goes for emergency vehicles too. Blue lights are used across all emergency vehicles to distinguish them, from ambulances to the coast guard and bomb disposal.
3. Use of converted vans as ambulances: this really comes down to a combination of budget and location. A van conversion is about half the cost of a coachbuilt box type body (they were £150k 15 years ago!) and in city centres and large towns, the smaller van conversions can, in theory, weave through traffic more easily.
4. Cost of an 'ambulance ride' to hospital: it's NOT FREE in the UK. There is NO CHARGE AT THE POINT OF USE. We all pay a huge sum of money through our taxes to fund the NHS and this is who adminsters the costs of the ambulance services.
There are different models of health service funding across Europe (including highly privatised models) but i do not know of any other European country where you have to get your credit card out to pay like the States
A good overview, but with one glaring (or howling) error. Studies have shown that the European style of emergency vehicle sirens actually are heard more clearly, further away than the US standard sirens. This is particularly true for those in a vehicle or those who are older, who both find the lower pitched sirens less audible at any significant distance. Try it...which do you hear more clearly, a man shouting at his wife or child in the car stopped next to yours at the lights, or a baby screaming in that same car?
Last month my wife fell over on some uneven footpath and a kindly neighbour called an ambulance. She was examined, given an ECG and taken to hospital, I met her there and several hours took later her home, bruised but not seriously injured. There won't be any charge to follow. I always buy travel insurance when visiting the USA; insurance is always dearer than for other countries.
Uk ambulances actually have both the wailer and the yelper ambulance siren tones ( some even have a faster yelper tone) which is controlled via a pedal or the horn. This is for the reasons you said the wailer can be heard from far away but is difficult to pinpoint which direction the sound is from. The yelper is faster and doesnt carry as much but it is easier to hear where its coming from. We switch tones in built up areas going through red lights e.t.c.
We also are supposed to use the siten all the time for similar reasons to the US unless we are doing a "silent approach " going to someone and you dont want to alert them you are coming. .. we sometimes choose not to.
basically the same story in the US. also, most emergency services will change the siren sound as they approach a junction.
In my city in England back in the 1950/60s the ambulance service had full time staff during the day, while overnight it was volunteers from St John or Red Cross. The service just carried an accident victim to hospital.
Now ambulance staff are trained to treat accident victims at the incident, before transport to hospital. This results in better recovery of the patient.
I’m a student paramedic and UK ambulances also at points don’t even use sirens when travelling to a patient. In my trust SWAST, we typically drive on blues and sirens to cat 1’s and cat 2’s and then under normal road conditions to cat 3 & 4’s, though this can change based on clinical evaluation of the situation. We also have strict guidelines to follow when driving on lights and sirens to help reduce the risk of accidents occurring to other drivers, e.g when entering the motorway, we turn all the lights and sirens off to stop cars trying to pull over on the slip road which is considered more of a hazard to public safety than us getting onto the motorway quicker, and it’s only once we’re on the motorway that we turn the lights and sirens on again. The same happens when at a set of traffic lights where there is no way of us getting through, as we are not allowed to force cars through red lights, so turning off the lights and sirens reduces the pressure on the other vehicles to move out of the way.
interesting about turning the lights off when entering a motorway, its not actually a requirement under the road traffic act, or mentioned in the highway code or roadcraft. it must be a SWAST thing, us in EEAST dont do that.
I was working on a building site in Rutland about four years ago when one of the electricians had heart attack symptoms so an ambulance was called. After half an hour the Site Manager rang back to see where the ambulance was and was told "we're not sending one, we've run out of them at the moment"! He took the chap to hospital in his car, so don't be surprised if you need one but don't get one. This was Leicestershire NHS on a normal day. Turned out the chap had bad indigestion, which has very similar symptoms but nobody knew that until he was checked over. Ironically someone else from the same site who had a history of a dicky ticker (heart attacks and stents fitted), went on holiday and had a few bouts of indigestion which he put down to the change in food, but mentioned it to a doctor who told him he'd had four minor heart attacks without noticing!
Be fair they can't have an infinite supply of them. How pissed off would you be having a heart attack and can't get an ambulance because they are taking someone with indigestion to a hospital?
@@dianelawson4037 I see your point but the indigestion wasn't apparent until the examination. The same outcome would have happened if the guy had a digger drive over him and crush him; there just weren't any ambulances available. Have a plan B just in case I guess.
@@user-se7es6uc8v Clearly otherwise the crew would not have taken him but would not make you feel better would it mid heart attack. The point is if they are all busy then they are all busy so as you say plan B. The best option is for parliament to ensure that ambulances are not stacked up outside A&E waiting to unload but thats above my paygrade. Mind how you go.
As a retired paramedic of 30 yrs in lreland our national ambulance service is similar to the UK model. Many time particularly at summer times we used to get sick or injured US tourists who were terrified of being charged for the ambulance service provision they would be very suprised and pleased to know that the service was free that we would explain that our taxes and social security pay for the emergency service provision. It is not being like what some americans say being "communist" its just good health care provision for our population. Also all european ambulances are subject to a european wide standard (CEN) Which its a French title Commitee European de Normalisation. It came in about the turn of the century with the european medical yellow colour for vehicles, green and saturn yellow battenburg (checkered) decalling on the side of the vehicles and high visability chevrons (yellow/orange or yellow/ red) on the rear of the vehicles. It covered vehicle safety ie collision survivability for patient and crew including roll over survivability etc l could go on and on but it was to have uniform standards from portugal to poland and from norway to ltaly. The UK adopted this standard long before Brexit. In my country the use of sirens at night is covered under the road traffic acts we are not supposed to use them after dark unless we really need to use them. Also as regards stroke patients time is very critical so time is brain cells saved so a true emergency just the same as heart attack patients. Never hesitate to call for an ambulance for those scenarios irrespective of being in America or Europe or anywhere else for that matter. I hope that this helps thank you.
On the two occasions I was carried in an ambulance, once at around 8:00 am, the other at 5:00 pm following heart incidents, the driver only used the siren for road users who didn't use their rear-view mirror. Most of the journey was silent.
There is a difference with the medical treatment you get.
American ambulances have a philosophy where they just scoop you up and take you to the ER asap. British ambulances will give you the most advanced treatment they can offer you.
So there is a difference with the amount of training with American EMT's having absolutely minimal medical training. Where as British ambulance man and women have very advanced qualifications, and British paramedics have even more advanced qualifications.
You mention about the British ambulance being equiped for treatment that's why.
Americans have something called "the golden hour" because they want to get you to hospital within that first hour so that your treatment can start at hospital. British ambulances can do some admanced treatments every early on in the emergency, so you have a better chance of survival and shorter time for recovery.
UK sirens are directional & so they are mainly going forward & not jus wailing all over, this helps people in the direction the ambulance is going to hear them.
We had box type ambulances until only a few years ago when it was found that the van type long wheel base vans could carry the same weight as the box type & are cheaper to buy & convert & repair.
I guess probably THE most important topic is the training and clinical scope of American vs UK ambulance services. As an Australian paramedic I've spent the past 30 years watching ambulance services in other countries develop. We tend to look more at what is being done in the UK, and develop it to suit Australia. The UK and Australia often share and copy ideas. Ambulance services for the most part in Australia are mobile ERs. Whatever can be done by nurses in an ER within the first hour can be done by paramedics. The UK paramedics have similar training to Australian ones. Unlike in the US, Australian paramedics have a University degree (Bachelor of Paramedicine), and EMT level of training doesn't meet minimum clinical standards for working on emergency ambulances. In both the UK and Australia, you'll always get a "take the ER to the patient" approach to patient care and highly trained professionals. While many cities in the US have world class ambulance services, in many towns being treated by EMTs (often volunteer) with not much more than a year of training is common. If they haven't already, British paramedics will be able to perform blood infusions, field amputations and suturing if they follow what Australian paramedics are doing.
You should do a video on the different cars and sirens of other medical transport too - emergency blood delivery, paramedic car, doctor’s car (they have a green light !), transplant organ truck etc.
Don’t know if these exist in the USA or not but it might teach your followers a thing or two.
Actually ambulances in UK can also sound piercing. But that could be caused by a kind of tube shaped speaker instead of round horns.
In the UK, forward and sideways red flashing lights are restricted to the fire brigade (so fire engines and fire officers) re flashing lights are allowed on the rear of an emergency vehicle to indicate it's stationary or could pose an obstruction traffic (these are usually used at an emergency scene).
the siren sound of a British ambulance can be heard for miles in rural areas giving awareness all through the Country.
UK sirens, actually you can hear them further away, it's to do with wavelength, not volume. Sorry to be an anorak, but I watched a program on it... I feel like a total sad git now... So even though they can be heard from further away they don't sceam so loud when close up. American sirens are horrible when they are close.
Ooh... by the way, I've come across channels doing reactions to you 😊
They love you as much as we do ❤
❤ from Northeast England ❤️
It's kind of the opposite way around actually, she had it right; but it's heavily dependent on the topography around you. Higher frequency sounds will get squelched pretty hard when there's lots of things to bounce off of whereas Lower frequencies are less prone to getting deadened. At closer range you can process the rough direction of the higher frequency better. The drivers are taught to use the low tone on openish roads and switch to the high pitch tone when approaching junctions or areas with lots of pedestrians.
@@spacechannelfiver
Aye, lower wavelength. Ours have a wavelength that is heard further and not as loud. Sorry that makes you wrong too... but I forgive you 🥰
@@oopsdidItypethatoutloud next time you get a chance go and listen to an orchestra, close your eyes. you'll be able to locate exactly where the violin or flute is situated and have a much harder time with a contrabassoon or a bass. The don't normally carry as far either.
@spacechannelfiver
Well, all I can say is there was a conversation happening about if America should change it's sirens and the scientific presentation showed the difference and showed what I said about them
P.S. I love an orchestra
Flute? That's the long one with buttons yeah? 😇
❤️ from Northeast England ❤️
The cost running into the thousands for an ambulance ride in the USA points out one of the real weaknesses of the American system. That it is SO expensive to run. An appendicectomy performed in a state run and financed UK hospital can be provided for under £5,000. The exact same operation in the USA costs upwards of $40,000. I can only presume that it's because in the UK the government pays the actual costs but in the USA there is a long list of people and groups needing to make a profit.
The irony of this is that it therefore costs the US government more as a percentage of its GDP to run the tax funded Medicare and Medicaid (providing care for a limited amount of people) than it does for countries like the UK to provide universal healthcare for all. The Americans are being scammed.
In the US ambulance services used to be municipal or county services and were free, this only changed in the last 40 years. As my mother got older he asthma began to get more serious and I often just drove her to the hospital rather than waiting for an ambulance.
Ambulances may still be municipal or county services (for example, operated by the fire department), except the municipality now sends you a bill. The usual protest from casualties in the USA is "Please don't call for an ambulance! I can't afford to pay for it!"
@@ib9rt My wife had a seizure a few years ago. I hated to call an ambulance but I had no idea where the hospital was. The prices are absurd.
There's a phrase used in the UK referring to emergency vehicles when on a call, they're running with 'Blues & Two's'
The UK does charge for ambulances if you are involved in a car crash. I got a charged when I was knocked off a motorcycle. My motorcycle insurance paid. So not always, but mostly, free at the point of use.
Having served in the Army, I was fortunate enough to be stationed in Canada. While there I found out that the Ambulance service in America is not considered an emergency service, that being depending on the state, they are not given the same priority as Police or Fire services they are just expensive taxis with benefits.
During daylight hours it is still difficult to know which direction the ambulance is approaching. The different tones and varied sound is supposed to help but if you are at a junction it still sounds a cacophonous sound that could be coming from anywhere. At night the blue light is very bright and can be seen miles away.
Yes, I definitely struggle with knowing where the ambulance is in either country and get very disoriented when trying to figure out if I need to move or not!
Pretty simple really. The volume and pitch of European sirens is set so that when the ambulance is approaching you, the sound gets louder but when it is going away from you it dissipates faster! This is why America is now starting to consider that European sirens are better and are starting to be adopted. Scientists have also proved that the European sirens are better heard by those with hearing difficulties. If you hear any emergency siren in Europe that seems to be getting louder - first check your mirrors then look around you - if you can't do that you shouldn't be driving!
@@keithparker5125 Except you have no idea what direction the noise is coming from. It may be coming closer but then it could be falling from the sky.
@@russellpotter7294 I've never had that problem - maybe you should get your hearing checked.
The purpose of the siren is purely there to attract your attention. Should you hear the siren, start beefing up your observations all around you. You can often see signs that the vehicle is approaching before you can even see the actual vehicle. e.g. other car moving in directions that you would not normally expect as they start to get out of the way. You can often also see reflections of blue lights in car or shop windows or off of road signs. You could also wind your two front windows down - that will help with determining direction. These are all little tips BTW that are taught as part of a advanced driving course.
Hey, EMT in the U.S here, I feel like I could give a bit of perspective as someone who both works in EMS, but also loves to research, design, and play with international emergency vehicles.
Giving this is from a U.S perspective, notably Kansas and Colorado, do not assume this is everywhere, and I say this because the BIGGEST answer is it depends, depends heavily on where the ambulance serves and who owns them.
In the U.S we have a mix of private and publically owned and operated ambulance services, and a quick fact for you, EMS service in the U.S actually originated from the funeral industry believe it or not. This being because before we had organized EMS services widespread funeral homes were the only places that had the vehicles large enough to carry someone lying down. AMR, the nations largest EMS provider actually started out as a mortuary transport company, however to date tho, I only know of one EMS service that is owned, or at least shares the same name with a funeral home, that being Donald Martens and Sons of Brooklyn, Ohio. Funeral homes stopped providing ambulance services in the 1960's at which point the DOT decided to standardize and form government EMS codes and municipalities and private businesses took over. The movie Ghost Busters, the original Ecto 1 is a Miller Meteor Combination car, that means it could be either an ambulance or a hearse, and they still make these today however their not for medical use and strictly funeral related. The sedan based ambulances and SUV based ambulances stopped being produced in the early 90's with the newest ones I have ever seen were 1995 models.
Now onto your talking points:
- In the U.S we have 4 types of ambulance builds, they are aptly named type 1-4.
Type 1 ambulances are built onto light and mid-duty trucks, often F-550's , and Ram 5500's. However you also see international and ford F-600 chassis used as well. These units often are used as specialists units, but are also just run-of-the-mill units as well. Their larger platform allows for more room in the patient compartment as well as being able to hold more equipment. WE have some units that carry CT and MRI scanners which serve as mobile stroke units, however those are rare. Working in a type 1 its really nice, the larger size allows for more room to maneuver in while the ability to use truck suspension systems means you barely feel wind, bumps, and more while moving.
Type 2 are the van ambulances you mentioned, their designed mostly for intra-city use and are basically upfitted vans with little to no body modifications done. Older styles that used box-vans rather than the newer Sprinter and Transit chassis had fiberglass toppers that replaced the OEM roofs for extra height. Their actually rather cramped but they pack almost all of what a type 3 and type 1 does depending if its BLS or ALS.
Type 3 ambulances are van chassis with a modular cab built onto them similar to type 1's, there isn't much that a type 1 can do that a type 3 cant unless your taking about mid-duty trucks which are often specialty care units like mobile stroke units or IFT trucks with dual stretcher setups.
Type 4 ambulances are specialty vehicles entirely, often used to describe ATV's and other unique units that are needing to be classified as an ambulance.
I don't know much about how the U.K classifies their ambulance builds but even the van based units are more modular than American counterparts however they pretty much do the same job, just in different fashions.
- Sirens in their tonage and patterns even are dependant mostly on government regulations. Each state and some municipalities dictate what sirens can be used and when. However its important to note that in the U.S, if we are responding code, that means with lights and or sirens activated, WE are a hazard and thus held liable for incidents that result from our presence. This applies to even if we are hit rather than if we hit someone else. This isn't always the case, but it's instructed to us as such. This means we are incentivized to run reduced if and when possible (think Inter-facility Transfers and situations where ELS isn't effective for getting to the hospital quick.). The origin of the tones is debated, while it was common to use mechanical siren's back in the day (i still prefer them) the tones we use aren't really that connected to that past.
- Appearance of the ambulance is another that differs dependant on where you are. No state to date requires specific colors for ambulances, you can paint them any color you want. However some markings are required by law, such as the backwards arranged "Ambulance" decal on the hood of the vehicle as well as in certain jurisdictions you are required to have Chevrons on the rear of your ambulance. It is also recommended and required in some places to have specific texts like the AMBULANCE letterings and the Star of Life decals be reflective as well for visibility. Also the yellow and green chequered pattern on U.K ambulances is called "Battenburg" and it is a requirement IIRC on all emergency vehicles.
- ELS (Emergency Lighting Systems) are also a state regulation, and what is used will vary heavily on where they are located. For the most part, outside of a few states, Red and White is generally acceptable, but where I work Red, White, and Blue are allowed and normal. Some states like Chicago required green lights for any voulenteer units while NY requires only Red and White.
- Billing honestly is the bane of any EMS worker, no one I know is proud of the idea we have to charge patients. However, the thousand dollar price tags are more city based, the services I work for don't usually go above $500 unless its something heavily involved or its an IFT at which point it will in crease. However Med flights are just expensive as heck, 30K is what I usually see charged. While i wouldn't like to see a NHS clone in the U.S (the NHS is honestly not a great model for its own reasons) something state-based or a means of basic services being free of charge would be a benefit if you were to ask me.
As I said earlier, and as you mentioned, this is not applicable to all the U.S, and it will depend heavily on where you are, however this is my experience as an EMS provider in two states.
In the UK it is prohibited to have red lights at the front of a vehicle. Emergency vehicles are not exempt from this law.
very interesting!
I believe it's also illegal to show a white light at the rear when not reversing. This also brings to mind the bizarre use of red turn lights in the US.
That's interesting to read. In Australia we used to be blue for police, and red for ambulance and fire. Now all three plus SES and VRA have red and blue. I drove the very first ambulance in my state to have blue lights added. The fleet mechanic was touring the stations, fitting blue lens to half the lights. Our truck was the first, and no sooner had he finished we got an emergency job.
Emergency ambulances in the UK have large battenburg markings. Patient transport ambulances operated by the NHS have narrow 2 inches high for non-stretcher vehicles and 4 inches high for stretcher vehicles.
Also, all NHS Ambulance Trust crews involved in patient transport, are trained in basic f8rst aid and carry oxygen cylinders, defibrillators and various masks as they are required to stop if they come across someone requiring help.
A splendid summery! I have the book you recommend about British ambulances, but I still learned many things about British ambulances that I did not know. The only thing I knew about USA ambulances was that if you're not insured you're better off being dead.
This show was simple, clear, and well presented. I am impressed enough to subscribe to your channel Thank you Girl Gone London .
what wonderful feedback, I am so glad you enjoyed the video and hope you enjoy future ones! Thank you!
A friend of mine used to be a paramedic, and not far from his ambulance station was a fixed speed camera. One day he and his crew mate were called into the station managers office. The manager explained that he had no problem with them tripping the camera on an emergency call, but could they please stop giving the camera "the bird".
There can a charge for being taken to hospital by ambulance in the UK. It is set by law on the idea that if someone causes an accident they should pay. However, the payment is only required if you are insured and the hospital with charge your insurer directly. So you'll probably never notice it.
The charge is adjusted annually according to inflation. I think it is around £225.
Interesting - never heard of this. Does it just apply to those who don't qualify for NHS treatment, or is it one of those archaic laws that most people and hospitals have forgotten about?
@@davidellis4031 Neither. It is part of the NHS injury costs recovery scheme. The maximum charge is ~£55k. It is only payable when there would be compensation for the injury - so is usually paid by insurance companies. Most people don't notice it.
I must check my ambulance for the tap and pay machine.
One point not mentioned here is - so I have heard - a different philosophy between US and most European ambulance services. In the US there is the "scoop and scoot" philosophy, i.e. gather up the patient and get them to hospital as quickly as possible, don't waste time treating them - speed is what counts. In most European countries the idea is to first stabilize the patient before moving them. This requires a higher level of medical training, more equipment and often an emergency doctor may be called to the location. If I am rightly informed, becoming an emergency paramedic in the UK involves a 4 year university course. In Germany it is a bit less, but they are not allowed to administer certain medications without a doctors involvement.
I'm an Australian paramedic, but believe UK paramedics have similar training. It's generally 3 years at university, where you can graduate with a Bachelor of Paramedicine. Many also graduate with a Bachelor of Nursing. University graduates spend a year as an intern before becoming a Registered Paramedic. In the eastern states of Australia, paramedic is the base level -we don't have EMT level here. As you said, the clinical scope is higher. We can perform a lot of procedures and drugs without any consultation with a doctor. Basically everything that's done in an ER by Registered nurses is performed by Registered Paramedics in the field. The philosophy here is to bring the ER to the patient, treat and if they do need to go to hospital then by the time they arrive, there's less waiting for X-rays, imaging etc. There are some communities in the US where ambulance staff have basic training (say a year), and don't have the clinical scope, knowledge or consent to provide anything other than basic cares and transport.
I remember in the 60s, when American ambulances were just like a converted station wagon.
3:23 yeah were "polite" with it haha. we only use them in busy roads really or if we need people to get out the way, at junctions/intersections etc. its only used when theres traffic.at night remember that a lot of the UK is full of residential areas OR countryside with animals.
In Britain We have "The Flying Squad" introduced by a Derby Doctor Dr Collins in 1955. He said he was fed up with waiting for ambulances to bring in accident patients into the hospital many of which were already dead! His idea was to have a fast vehicle (A Range Rover) which would carry doctors and nurses at speed to the accident where they could get to work straight away saving lives! They carried Oxygen and drugs to treat the patients.
Sounds like the grandfather of paramedic response units. We have critical care paramedics in my home state in Australia who respond in SUVs (Isuzu MU-X these days) to assist advanced care paramedics. Some are high acuity paramedics (HARU) trained in such procedures as blood infusions and field amputations. Their training program was developed after our medical director spent a few months with the London HEMS.
@@coover65 I once met him he did our St John's Ambulance first aid exam! He asked me what poison would you find in the lounge? I said Alcohol he said well done!
Do you get a bill in America if your house catches fire and the fire service come out to put it out?
Is it charged per hour or per gallon of water squirted? Does the distance from the firehouse to your house affect billing?
Is it different between volenteer fire companies and full time brigades?
Because that's how absurd ambulance billing sounds to a typical Brit
Your analogy is not as far fetched as you think. Although I live in the state of Illinois USA, I keep a keen eye on the news. California, as you may know, is stricken with the constant threat of wildfires these days. Due to the fact that the public fire service is overwhelmed, wealthy locals band together to hire private fire services. This is the reason that Hollywood stars' million dollar mansions often survive an outbreak of fires while other homes in the countryside burn. The local private fire service sends a bill to the residents that they must pay. On a national news report I saw that upon arriving at a dwelling the fire service realized that it was a house that had not paid the fee. The firefighters were filmed standing there as they watched the house burn down. As an American, I am most surprised that the right-winged Fox News Network anchors all agreed that standing there doing nothing as the home burned was outrageous.
In the UK flashing blue lights are used on emergency vehicles; flashing green lights for a doctor on an emergency call; flashing amber lights are used on a vehicle which may cause a hazard eg road maintenance vehicles, slow moving vehicles or refuse collection vehicles and flashing red lights are used on the rear of a police vehicle to indicate that it is stationary.
actually 'rear reds' can used by all emergency services, i know , as i use them on a daily basis when responding to those very calls.
A couple of weeks ago I had to help after an attempted suicide. The last thing that we needed was for a bunch of firemen/women to turn up. Fortunately the person is okay(-ish) now and getting the help and support that they need.
@@bryansmith1920It’s okay🙂 - they are safe now and recovering well. They are on the medication that they need and talking through their problems with trained staff and are slowly rebuilding their life.
aw, glad you were there to help!
@@GirlGoneLondonofficialThank you
I never knew that the history of ambulances could be so interesting, lol.
anything can be interesting if you look hard enough. ;)
In New Zealand, the ambulance service is largely subsidised by the government. A standard fee of $90 tends to get charged (after the event), I don't think they chase you if you can't pay. For example last year I woke at 4a.m. with chest pains, rang the free 24-hour 'Healthline' who persuaded me to let them call me an ambulance, ambulance arrived at 4-30, gave me an ECG right there in my driveway, and we concluded it probably wasn't a heart attack. They wanted to take me to hospital for further tests but I declined as I had to travel that day. They made me promise to get checked out as soon as I landed (it was a kidney stone). Got a bill for $90 some weeks later.
In the south of France recently I put my rental car on its roof. I was walking and talking OK, but the paramedic persuaded me to let them take me to Nice hospital for tests. 60miles and near 2 hours later (the roads are very winding) I arrived on a stretcher, grabbed the doctor and said urgently "I need to pee!" "No no, it's FREE!" "No, not pay, PEE!" As it happened I was very lucky and mostly undamaged, they discharged me 6 hours later with a tetanus jab, a sheaf of scans and test results, and no bill.
The relief (or lack of additional stress) of not having to worry about money in such situations is invaluable.
The blue of Britain's emergency services originated many years ago because it was the colour chosen for the light outside a police station to indicate the building's purpose at night. 😊
Tennis balls went yellow around the same time!
green and yellow is apparently more visible more quickly than red which is why our red and white ambulances disappeared.
UK police and Ambulance sirens used to go ''nee-nar-nee-nar'' but many now go 'rooooo-rooooo-roo-roo-roo''.
Mind, both used to go driiiiing. Driiiiing ,driiiiiiiing
The reason that changed, apparently, was because people didn't tend to move out of the way as quickly. The current sirens are more 'aggressive' and urgent sounding which make people more likely to give way. Also the old sirens weren't as effective on motorways.
In the early 60,s there was a major train crash in the UK where the local US military camp sent their ambulances . The difference was startling the UK ambulance put a blanket on the injured and took them to the hospital. the US military ambulance had paramedics on board.
A lot of the injured treated with the paramedics lived so hence the change with the UK ambulances as first responders . I was in Florida years ago where a fire engine came out and it was explained that they had a paramedic on board.
This is completely ambiguous. UK paramedics or USA paramedics? UK ambulance or USA ambulance? I don't get what you are saying.
@@Drew-Dastardly Try reading it again. It's perfectly sensible.
@Drew-Dastardly both the UK and US sent ambulances, but the US ones had paramedics on board who treated the victims then and there, ensuring better survival rates. The UK ambulance(s?) merely transported the victims to the hospital, offering no immediate medical aid besides a blanket, which meant fewer people survived. So the UK changed their service to have paramedics on ambulances.
@@Drew-Dastardly In the 60,s the UK ambulance system was purely a collect and delivery service for people needing hospital treatment . Remember the majority of the population did not have a car. So, after the train crash and seeing how the US military works changes were put in place to put paramedics into ambulances that saved lifes.
I think you are recalling the Harrow and Wealdstone train crash of 1952 and the involvement of a medical unit of the United States Air Force based in the UK at the time. The medics were led by Abbie Sweetwine (dubbed "The Angel of Platform Six" in the British press - look her up - she is an inspiring figure) who put in place a triage system to get the most seriously injured people to hospital first, rather than packing the available ambulances with the first presented patients and leaving the most needy behind. It was this process that was noted by the UK authorities and it changed the whole ethos of emergency response within the system and introduced paramedics. Major Sweetwine is laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.
One thing I have noticed that hasn't been mentioned is the difference between the two countries on how they respond. In the US, it's very much 'bring the patient to ED', in which they get there and go straight away. In the UK, the model is typically 'bring the ED to the patient'. Here, we will arrive on scene, spend time stabilising the patient, then transport or discharge. Paramedics and EMT's in the UK discharge a lot of patients on scene after treatment, not because they are not sick or was never sick, but because they do not need to go to hospital as treatment has now been completed, and they have been safety-netted well.
Hi. I lived in Newcastle upon Tyne in the late 1980s and there were US-made boxy ambulances with right hand steering. I understand these were abandoned as they had a tendency to tip over if taking a corner at more than 60mph..
When I was young emergency vehicles used a bell to warn people of their approach. It was easy to work the direction the bell sound came from while the Hawaii Howler (the name given to siren sound) was difficult to determine. And I think still is!
That's so cool!
We used to have white ambulances with a red stripe. I miss those.
I’m a recently retired paramedic in Ontario Canada.
Type II ambulances (van style) are not the greatest to work in, especially in rural settings the single wheel rear axle gives it a narrower stance and is lighter then a type III (van style front end with a box). I’ve driven “rally car” style in a snowstorm. Looking out the passenger side window, because that was the direction I was going. Aka.. sideways (and I was only doing ~40km/h 25mph). My career started with the Type II, with the curved walls, it was had to sit and actually tend to the patient. Not sure how the newer Transit/Sprinter vans are now, with the straight walls. But the curved walls were horrible. I was also fortunate to be vertically challenged. Our Type II’s had a raised roof. I can’t remember, how much taller it was. But I could actually stand up straight inside (I’m 5’9”). Look up Toronto ambulance 1980’s. If you see a Dodge van with a raised roof, that was the monster
The Type III is nicer to work with. There is more elbow room to work, all the equipment is not crammed into every nook and cranny. Nicely spaced out and easily accessible (mind you, I always worked out of my bags and the truck was my post call resupply-as much as possible).
The box tends to have more height inside, so taller paramedics could work a little easier. The dual rear wheels, gave it a nice stance when driving the “billboard” around. Plus the extra weight of the conversion, made the III’s tend to fishtail less in the snow.
If you want to go full nerd.
Look up
Ontario Ambulance Vehicle Equipment Standards (list and minimum requirements of the equipment/supplies)
Ontario Ambulance Standards (build standards of the actual ambulance)
And, I can’t remember if it was Peel Region or York Region. They literally have a picture on the web of every piece of equipment removed from an ambulance and laying on the ground to show what each ambulance in the province carries
One last thing, Most North American’s are larger is size. Dare I say more obese?
Type III ambulances have a larger floor space to accommodate bariatric stretchers. The extra floor room allows the paramedics a little more room to move around and do their job. Rather than being stuck in the jump seat and hoping they don’t have to climb like a monkey to get to the patient, besides their head.
I can’t say much about the Type I (pick up truck or bigger front end). I never really worked on one.
The flashing lights of emergency vehicles seem to be enough for me to notice them as oftentimes here in the UK they have just the lights on and not the sirens, so that I can see them aproaching or in my wing mirrors of my van.
If you google stretcher railings! you will find that due to lack of materials in the war they cut up metal railings around London and turned them into stretchers. after the war the returned the stretchers to be used as railings again. Only now they had 4 bends in them that were used as legs on the stretchers. ?They are still there today.
We are trained to use sirens at all times except where we don't want the public to move of our way. However when it's obvious there isn't anyone to warn some drivers do choose to run silent as the sound of the sirens in the cab can be annoying.
Should an ambulance be involved in an incident then if they had the siren off and it was deemed a contributory factor then the repercussions would be more serious.
We don't have an exemption to dangerous driving so we do need to ensure whatever we do, including using our sirens, Is done as safely as possibly.
We have 3 tones of siren, the first tone carries further but is less 'piercing' so we change them in order to alert people to our presence who appear not to have heard us coming.
been there driving mine!! thankfully had mine on!
My area is all box ambulances but some north and central ambulance services use the smaller ones
I rode my first ambulance call in the 70s. Joined the NHS Ambulance Service in 82. Ambulances were all white, custom built bodies made of fibre glass on a wooden or steel frame, on a van chassis usually a Ford Transit or a Bedford CF. My service had two tone air horns, loud omnidirectional and useless in snow. Cheshire Police and Ambulance had tested out American type sirens and switched over. They were mounted in the bar light on the roof, wail the long lower and slower sound is unidirectional if you can hear it's coming to you and carried for a mile in open terrain. Yelp, the short fast higher tone is omnidirectional. They were designed to be used with wail travelling on a road towards an obstruction (traffic lights or roundabout etc) when close about a 100m switch to yelp so everyone can hear you. I moved to Cheshire Ambulance and they worked great people knew you were approaching with about 150W output. I have worked in the US and the vehicles had 12 different tones multiple speakers (on the roof and in the grill, thry looked like air scoops below lights) and upto 1200W output. We had some US and Canadian vehicles in this country for a while. TriStar Ambulance builders of Nova Scotia made a superb quality and were less than the white custom built. They were type 3 built on GMC van and cabs, big V8 engine 6litres but used less fuel than the British ones. I think the decision to end use was political. We ended up with poor quality Renault Master van conversions and changed from white to yellow for safety reasons in day light.
Why do the sirens on modern ambulances not sound very loud? It comes down to the position of the speaker. British sirens don't have variable volume, to keep the noise down inside the speaker is mounted on the bumper, usually the offside front pointing to the side and down slightly. This is the most stupid place to put it, those who choose this location haven't heard of all the testing and research that was done and there are not many of around who were there. Wail is fired at the ground where it reflects off buildings and vehicles, preventing it from carrying. Yelp has the same issue by the time it reaches vehicles it doesn't have the energy to penetrate modern sound proofing in cars or compete with stereos. My local police have roof mounted systems athey work fine.
I'll stop here because I could write a book on the differences, especially speed. British Ambulance 70-80mph whilst a GMC 140mph, I frightened the life out of an idiot who tried to get across the road in his BMW on the A5, he thought an ambulance with lights and sirens doing 70 (31.3 m/second) I was actually travelling at 135 (60.35m/second) with lights and sirens turned up to 1200W output. He made but probably needed to change underwear.
Presumably, all your ambulances were built by Herbert Lomas, in Handforth (nr Wilmslow)? Now the Stratstone Ferrari/Porsche dealership is on the old site, I believe. I used to be in the Air Cadets, based at the back, off Dean Drive.
We'd see all the chassis lined up outside, waiting for the fibreglass coachwork to be added.
It would be interesting to compare waiting times and ambulance availability.
Note the euro yellow chequerboard design is common across all UK emergency service vehicles. The second colour depends on the service. Yellow and green = medical, yellow and red = fire, yellow and blue = police.
Also coastguard, mountain rescue and bomb disposal have their own secondary colours as well
Hiya. UK sirens are also designed so that pedestrians can determine from which direction the emergency vehicle is approaching from. Google green flashing light, btw. Stay safe. All the best to you.
hiya, actually its all road users, not just pedestrians.
@@David-zz4vf - yes, you're right, but the design came about because too many people were actually walking out in front of emergency vehicles, not realising they were about to be on top of them. I saw this happen twice and how those vehicles missed, I'll never know.
Your ambulance bill in the US is entirely dependent on where you live. City run EMS services like Chicago, FDNY and Detroit will charge you thousands for an ambulance ride, more suburban and rural areas tend to charge substantially less. Also, the UK/European ambulances are not as wide and taller, so it has a higher center of gravity with more tendency to roll over. The US ambulances have a lower center of gravity and wider, with is better for cornering. Most box type ambulances in the US are used for ALS because they can hold more equipment. The van types are mainly used for BLS.
Shout out for first responders, can be a literal lifesaver in rural or remote places. I know from experience after calling 999 that a first responder can stabilise someone while waiting for an ambulance and its paramedics to come.
We have them in Australia too. They're a wonderful group of people giving up their own time for the greater good. Sometimes the paramedics can be an hour away, so they have their work cut out for them.
The UK also have ambulance helicopters. They are yellow. 3 men onboard. 1 assistant, 1 paramedic, 1 doctor.
For a number of years now, almost all emergency response vehicles within the UK follow the same Battenberg pattern effect
Yellow & blue, police
Yellow & green, ambulance/paramedics
Yellow & red, fire & rescue
Air ambulance cars also use yellow & red and IIRC coastguard use yellow & blue as well.
And of course motorway Traffic Officers and DVSA vehicle examiners use yellow and black. Also, a lot of recovery vehicles recently have adopted yellow and orange.
I can recall some US ambulances used to be built on full-size car chassis, particularly Cadillac. In Germany and Sweden, until very recently, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo car chassis were also the basis of ambulances.
Who could have imagined that I would be watching someone talking about ambulances!!
I find colours interesting. In both the UK and US red was associated with ambulances and emergency exits etc. but in the 80s a European directive made green the colour of safety, and red was for danger. The result was all exit signs became green during the 80s, which then became part of the ambulance scheme. Red is also not a good colour as a significant minority of men have a red green defect and some can only see red as black, whereas at least the green is a mid grey! That goes for flashing lights too!!
If we needed a temporary 'exit' sign at work and someone appeared with a red one, it would have been from a US website. This was a while ago so maybe things have changed.
Thanks for your insight.
On the color of flashing lights: In Europe, and I guess the UK too, only emergency services are allowed to have blue flashing lights. On the other hand, if you see a blue flashing light, you automatically know that this is some kind of emergency vehicle in action, and you move away to let them pass. The idea here is that there is no other lights in traffic that are blue, so even in you peripheral vision, you are not in doubt that this is an emergency vehicle. Other colors like white, yellow or red are very common in traffic and can confuse.
Ambulance services also have protocols to fit the vehicle to the task, so the correct vehicle will be sent to the call.
E.g. there are also just 'car' ambulances that can respond to a call faster, and start live preserving actions while the transport vehicle with more kit is on the way.
British Paramedics are amazing people, often people forget they they are each doing the job of three people these days.
Re colour - its always embarrasing when they get mistaken for a Morrison's grocery truck :P