[nagdu] an incident with ambulance people tonight

[Tamara Smith-Kinney]

That's a good question.  I never thought of it before, but it would be good
to know, just in case.

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Garry and Joy Relton
Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 8:18 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] an incident with ambulance people tonight

As I understand it, you don't necessarily have the right to travel in the
ambulance with your friend. This is because of the relationship between the
two of you. If you have the right or need to be in the ambulance your dog
also must be transported with you unless there is some problem with them
being able to work on you, i.e.. severe bleeding and the like. The front of
the ambulance issue is ironic. I was once transported in the ambulance with
my dog, and one of the people tried to tell me that I had to leave my dog on
the side of the road. I said very firmly that the dog was coming with me.
Others staffing the ambulance knew that it was the law and suggested that
the dog could easily fit in front. They told me that the space was a little
limited around the stretcher and they wanted to be sure that they could give
me the care I needed. Since I was pregnant at the time and wanted to be sure
that the baby was ok I didn't argue with that. The idiot person even had the
guts to say to me while in transit that, if he would have had to put me in a
helicopter he would have left the dog on the side of the road. Ironically, I
was transported in an ambulance three-and-a-half years ago and then in a
helicopter. My dog was taken with my family members in the car so it wasn't
an issue. I have been told by county emergency personnel that the dog may be
refused access to an area in the ambulance if I am bleeding. I haven't had
to press this issue. Any information?

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Chasity Jackson
Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 7:24 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] an incident with ambulance people tonight


Hey everyone,

I need an opinion as to what to do about this particular situation. My 
friend and room mate was complaining about irregular heart palpetations 
tonight, and we ended up calling an ambulance and taking him to the ER. I 
knew it would be a while and decided to take Hadley. The ambulance crew said

that she had to ride in back and I had to ride up front. I told them this 
was a dog I had recently graduated with 3 mnths ago, and that I did not 
approve of her riding separately from me, as I could not control her this 
way. So then they refused to transport me period. They said, "Just stay 
here. There's no reason for you to go." I said to them, "You wouldn't tell a

sighted person they couldn't go with their friend, relative, etc." And they 
said, "Well, just take a taxi up there." A police officer agreed to 
transport me in his car, and it turned out he didn't know the state guide 
dog laws either. He didn't know squat about guide dogs period, because he 
kept petting her and making kissy noises, and talking to her over and over 
even after I explained that she was a working dog. As far as the ambulance 
crew, my friend told me that while they were transporting him, they said 
they could not allow her to ride up front due to the safety of the driver. 
I'm not sure what to do about this situation. I don't have time to write in 
depth because my friend is still in the hospital and I need to get back up 
there. So any replies that I may need to respond to might be delayed on my 
end because I may be at the hospital for a few days. I'm just curious what 
should be done.

Thanks,
Chasity 


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