DirtyOldTownMay 28

My kid just WhatsApped from his German exchange trip. They had to call an ambulance for him.

He has food poisoning, was very pale and nauseous. He was dehydrated and his blood pressure was dropping.

He's fine now but I wanted to share this because it has the most Western Europe Is a Civilized Place ending ever.

The paramedics came to the mall, took him into the ambulance, gave him an IV, checked him out, stayed with him until he felt better, then told him "No charge. Enjoy your trip to Germany." And if that wasn't enough, when they realized the group had had to move onto the train station without him, they gave him a ride over there to catch up with them.

I'm so ground down by the predatory realities of America in general in 2025 that this just about blew my fucking mind.

Show threadDC Deejay 🇨🇦🇪🇺🇺🇦
@dirtyoldtown Glad he's ok, and FWIW I'd expect he'd get similar care & hospitality in Canada.
May 28 at 7:18pmWeb
Show threadMaxMay 28
@dcdeejay @dirtyoldtown had to call an ambulance once in Canada and it was a really good experience!
Show threadUrbanEdmMay 29
@dcdeejay @dirtyoldtown Care yes, Free no. Even as a Canadian, I'd be charged for the ambulance. They are public and do provide services to people who can't pay, but will charge anyone who can.
Show threadDC Deejay 🇨🇦🇪🇺🇺🇦May 29
@UrbanEdm A Canadian who can pay, of course. An adult on vacation, sure. A foreign student separated from his class on a field trip? You must be in favour of giving out loose shelled peanuts to neighbourhood kids on Halloween. @dirtyoldtown
Show threadUrbanEdmMay 29

@dcdeejay @dirtyoldtown I dunno...I first found out that ambulances cost money when I was 14 and was out on my bike by myself.

It's not a question of what I'm in favour of, it's the way things are. They're going to be looking for someone to bill.

Show threadDC Deejay 🇨🇦🇪🇺🇺🇦May 29
@UrbanEdm Sure, but that's not the situation in this rare and fairly unique case. I don't know *anyone* whose first instinct would be anything other than to treat a student on a class trip in their country like they would want their own child treated in the same circumstances. @dirtyoldtown
Show threadEpistomaiMay 29
@dcdeejay @UrbanEdm @dirtyoldtown In Canada is illegal not to give health care to visitors, it's in the Human Rights Act I believe
Show threadhetougMay 29
@UrbanEdm @dcdeejay @dirtyoldtown in most of western Europe ambulances are paid over your taxes. It might be a private company running the service, but the bills are not paid by the patient. Transport to and from the hospital is another matter. You pay for that yourself, unless you are very ill.