A Call for Help
My husband is a retired Ventura city firefighter. For years he responded to medical calls for the Fire Department. On March 27, he suffered an aneurysm. I called 911. For the first time, he was on the receiving end of a call.
Firefighters arrived here first. Pruner Ambulance came later. Eventually my husband was transported to the hospital. Pruner charged us $662 for the ride. Their drivers were late and the bill confusing and expensive.
It is important that the public understand that Pruner is slow. We waited five minutes after the firefighters arrived for the ambulance to arrive. During the extra waiting time, my husband’s aneurysm could have burst. This is a life and death situation. The firefighters who were here could have transported my husband to the hospital immediately, if they had the transport contract allowing them to do so.
I believe if we had our own ambulance system in Ventura, firefighter/paramedics could do a better job than a private ambulance service. And, besides, I wouldn’t feel so bad if my $662 ambulance bill went to the city Fire Department.
JUANITA STOVALL
Ventura
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