DirtyOldTownMay 28, 2025

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 threadclaus
@dirtyoldtown In Germany, medical services (like Ambulance, IV) are not free for non-EU visitors without travel insurance, and ambulances do not "give rides".
May 29, 2025 at 11:03amWeb
Show threadAndreas ScherbaumMay 29, 2025

@claus @dirtyoldtown Well, they do. They gave me one after I had a bike accident, and also took my bike with us. Could have just have it locked at the side of the street, or worse just let it lay there.

Was this ride to the train station within their duties? Who knows. Was it a good thing to do, and not leave a kid stranded? For sure. I'm happy that my taxes pay for this.