I'm guessing they're talking about this guy and his ilk
(CBS/AP) Boston's ambulance service has modified one of its vehicles so it can handle the increasing number of obese patients that require transportation. Officials say Boston Emergency Medical Services has to take anywhere from two to four patients weighing at least 450 pounds to area hospitals per week. Capt. Jose Archila told The Boston Globe he's seen patients as much as 700 pounds. Experts say obese patients can put the health of paramedics in danger, who can injure their backs and necks lifting and moving the overweight. Paramedic Russ Smith told the Globe he had displaced two vertebrae and strained his back muscles while transporting a woman who weighed at least 400 pounds. The modified Boston ambulance that hits the streets later this month includes a hydraulic lift. A stretcher that can bear the weight of 850 pounds, costing $8,000, is also included. It cost about $12,000 to retrofit the vehicle.
I'm sorry, what? The back of an ambulance is essentially a frigen box truck sized cargo area. If you cant fit back there I'm fairly certain medical attention isn't going to do you any good. How many pulleys and crank levers do you think this thing is equipped with to be able to lift these heffers into the back of the truck? Might as well just lease a crane from the Suffolk Construction company.
It feels as if this is something the 500+ LBS Club should have to handle on their own. If you need special ambulances, reinforced with US Army Tank technology, that should be a privately funded service. Like if it's becoming that much of a problem that your fellow lard asses are dying because they can't fit into the ambulances maybe you take a step back and realize the size of the ambulance isn't the problem, more likely its the circumference of your gut.
And $8,000 for a Shamu sized reinforced stretcher? How much does a normal stretcher cost $100? $150? Are my taxes paying for that? Or is there some kinda special "Morbidly Fat Person" clause in Obama's new health care laws. That's about the value of my SUV, how tricked out can this bed on wheels be? Something tells me the city is getting hosed on that deal.
