A man experiencing a health crisis found out the ambulance shortage Scioto EMA and Southern Ohio Medical Center warned citizens about three days ago is indeed real.
EMS professionals are overburdened due to the pandemic, lack of volunteer workers, paid professionals, and the overuse of services for non-emergencies.
Just after 5:30 am, a call for a 79-year-old man experiencing gall bladder issues came into dispatch. Portsmouth Ambulance did not have a unit available to respond.
Portsmouth EMS said if the case was not a dire emergency, they couldn’t respond to the address on the Old Scioto Trail without permission from their chief.
Despite efforts to find another ambulance, there were no other ambulances available in the county to respond.
Dispatch called back to the family and advised there was no one available to respond. The family said they would bring the man to the hospital in a private vehicle.
Local officials advised residents to avoid calling for an ambulance unless someone is in a life-threatening situation, or if their condition is likely to worsen in the near future, or if moving them may cause further injury. Those who feel they need medical attention should be transported by an alternative means, not an ambulance or squad.