9/11/08
I have had the experience of being transported by an ambulance in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan, each with different experiences.
First, the United States. At the time, I didn’t realize I had asthma, and I was experiencing severe coughing and difficulty breathing. In a panic, I had my roommate call an ambulance. What happened next was quite surprising. About five people arrived, one of whom was a police officer (probably anticipating the possibility of an accident or incident), one was the manager of the entire apartment complex, and the others seemed to be related to the hospital or emergency services.
Despite my difficulty breathing, they were asking my roommate something. The crucial issue seemed to be about money. They said it would cost $500, and they wanted to know if we could pay. I mentioned that I had insurance, and that’s when they finally gave the green light. I wonder if they would have sent us back if we couldn’t pay. In this country, it seems like everything revolves around money.
Next, the United Kingdom. I was living on the third floor and suddenly had severe abdominal pain, likely due to strong antibiotics. Someone called an ambulance for me, and I had to make the effort to go down to the first floor. The ambulance staff who arrived told me, “If you can walk, don’t call an ambulance!”
It’s something you might not understand until you’ve lived in the UK, but there’s a diverse population, including people who have become British citizens from former colonial countries like India, Pakistan, people of Chinese descent, black people from Central America, and others. It’s estimated that they make up about 7% of the population. Additionally, there are migrant workers from EU countries like Poland now living in the UK. Cities like London also have a significant number of tourists, so it may seem like there are fewer native Britons.
While I can’t say it’s the norm, it seems that many people from these diverse backgrounds use ambulances like taxis, which may have led to such surprising comments.
Finally, Japan. Even after returning to Japan, I had several asthma attacks (though I can now control them). In Japan, ambulance services are exceptionally kind. I used to feel guilty about calling them repeatedly, but when I mentioned it to the ambulance staff, they would say, “If you experience severe symptoms, please call us anytime.” They were incredibly kind.
Recently, I’ve heard that some people have been abusing this kindness. They use ambulances as if they were taxis, and they receive better treatment than regular patients (no waiting, quicker examination of symptoms, efficient use of insurance, etc.), so it seems that some individuals are taking advantage of the service.
This story illustrates how ambulances reflect the economy, society, and culture of each country.
