Tired from a tough hike? Rescuers fear Yuppie 911

[ZDL]

*******

[Mac5.56]

Wow. I hate people like that, and I would have been livid if I was on that search crew!

[Alpha Sierra]

There is a simple answer to this problem: make the rescued pay ALL rescue costs. And I do mean all.

For all its socialism, Europe does at least one thing right. If you get in trouble in the Alps, be it in Germany, Austria, Italy, France, or Switzerland, and rescue is summoned for you; you WILL pay for ALL costs including aircraft operation. It does not matter if the rescue resources are volunteers, private alpine clubs, or government personnel.

If you were not smart enough to buy rescue insurance from the local or national alpine club, you will pay out of pocket 100%.

[kmrtnsn]

My best friend Bruce, a flight paramedic, was killed a year ago performing a single skid rescue of two of the yuppie ass-clown types this article talks about. found themselves atop a mesa, no GPS, no water, no compass, no map, dehydrated and calling for help after they couldn't find their way down. F*ck them! Next time, let them die.

[UrbanRunner]

A lot of alarm calls are false or stupid. Think of all the false burglar/robbery alarms, 911 hangups, idiotic calls reported by cell phones of reckless drivers (AKA: other driver pissed me off so I'll call 911). Emergency responders need to have the option of disregarding some of these or charging a fee for the full cost of the response. Maybe even licensing and training required to carry one of these things.

[1859sharps]

A lot of alarm calls are false or stupid. Think of all the false burglar/robbery alarms, 911 hangups, idiotic calls reported by cell phones of reckless drivers (AKA: other driver pissed me off so I'll call 911). Emergency responders need to have the option of disregarding some of these or charging a fee for the full cost of the response. Maybe even licensing and training required to carry one of these things.

The option to disregard a call for help must NEVER happen. Until your on the scene there is no way to really know what the real deal is.

However, defining unreasonable calls for help and billing the caller is more then reasonable. If the emergency is real, that is what your taxes are for if we provide a rescue service. But if you are just lonely, scared, etc.... Expect a bill.

[UrbanRunner]

The option to disregard a call for help must NEVER happen.

Ok, your police department responds three times in one night for a burglary alarm (movement sensor) at a re-sale clothing store. Management can not be contacted. Each time officers arrive and find the building secure but note a cat walking around inside.

You decide: Do you continue to send officers to each of the subsequent twenty alarm calls that are reported that night at the used clothing store?

[Mac5.56]

For all its socialism, Europe does at least one thing right. If you get in trouble in the Alps, be it in Germany, Austria, Italy, France, or Switzerland, and rescue is summoned for you; you WILL pay for ALL costs including aircraft operation. It does not matter if the rescue resources are volunteers, private alpine clubs, or government personnel.
.

NO. Not from socialist europe, that could never happen. Those commies are insane over there! (don't take offense I just have to comment every time someone uses the term socialism when it isn't necessary to the argument or discussion on hand).

Yes I agree with you, the best way to deal with this in the United States would be to make the party pay for the costs of the rescue (if that rescue is un-necessary). But I really have to tell you that I take a lot of solace in knowing that Search and Rescue is there and does what it does. I am an experienced outdoors person, probably more then most people on this site that aren't military, and I know that things happen. In fact a good family friend did several First Pitches in the Gunks (NY), and Yosemite, he is one of the best Search and Rescue trackers in the Red Dessert of Wyoming, and a trained Oil and Gas industry first responder and fire fighter. When I was young he almost called for help when he got hit in a horrid blizzard. Him and my father trained me. I had to call for help once. Easter weekend, got hit in a freak snow storm that came out of no-where. Conditions were so bad EVERY rescue vehicle (6 in total) except one got stuck coming up the mountain. Sh@t happens man, you can't charge everyone for it. Sometimes nature defeats the most trained people in the world.

That's why I pay taxes by the way. To have an infrastructure there to help me and support me when I need it! By your definition a police force is Socialism.

I do feel though that people that use these panic buttons in a none life threatening situation should be charged, or at least know that there is a possibility they will be charged if the use is deemed negligent. But charges should only be applied if people are as stupid as these four.

p.s. I'm gonna go call my friend and tell him he should stop working for Search and Rescue till the victims start paying up... Can't wait to hear what his traditional conservative response will be.

[Gentoo]

Ok, your police department responds three times in one night for a burglary alarm (movement sensor) at a re-sale clothing store. Management can not be contacted. Each time officers arrive and find the building secure but note a cat walking around inside.

You decide: Do you continue to send officers to each of the subsequent twenty alarm calls that are reported that night at the used clothing store?

At my agency you keep going and send a bill for each false alarm. In my city, you get one false alarm freebie, after that if we respond to a false alarm at your address, its $50 each time.

This solved ALOT of problems we had with repeat alarm offenders.

[Belmont31R]

NO. Not from socialist europe, that could never happen. Those commies are insane over there! (don't take offense I just have to comment every time someone uses the term socialism when it isn't necessary to the argument or discussion on hand).

Yes I agree with you, the best way to deal with this in the United States would be to make the party pay for the costs of the rescue (if that rescue is un-necessary). But I really have to tell you that I take a lot of solace in knowing that Search and Rescue is there and does what it does. I am an experienced outdoors person, probably more then most people on this site that aren't military, and I know that things happen. In fact a good family friend did several First Pitches in the Gunks (NY), and Yosemite, he is one of the best Search and Rescue trackers in the Red Dessert of Wyoming, and a trained Oil and Gas industry first responder and fire fighter. When I was young he almost called for help when he got hit in a horrid blizzard. Him and my father trained me. I had to call for help once. Easter weekend, got hit in a freak snow storm that came out of no-where. Conditions were so bad EVERY rescue vehicle (6 in total) except one got stuck coming up the mountain. Sh@t happens man, you can't charge everyone for it. Sometimes nature defeats the most trained people in the world.

That's why I pay taxes by the way. To have an infrastructure there to help me and support me when I need it! By your definition a police force is Socialism.

I do feel though that people that use these panic buttons in a none life threatening situation should be charged, or at least know that there is a possibility they will be charged if the use is deemed negligent. But charges should only be applied if people are as stupid as these four.

p.s. I'm gonna go call my friend and tell him he should stop working for Search and Rescue till the victims start paying up... Can't wait to hear what his traditional conservative response will be.

I agree too. Shit happens and you can't charge everyone for everything when we already pay taxes for these services. Just like the 911 tax on my phone bill.

Already how many people would be able to pay for helo and ground services? That is not cheap, and you'd financially ruin people + disuade people from going outdoors in the 1st place if they face 10k + in bills if shit goes wrong. I know I couldn't afford it. Americans are already too fat and stay indoors too much. Last thing we need to do is keep away the people who do make it off their couch even if they are idiots.

And in Europe you have to pay to use public restrooms. I also don't want to pay to take a piss when it was my tax dollars that built the damn thing in the 1st place.