Utah Search and Rescue Bill

[summit]

Well obviously. But that doesn't change the logic--if something is essential the cost shouldn't matter, right?
Interesting that in Europe, where health care coverage of some sort is universal, people are expected to pay for SAR or carry insurance.

Well, you can argue semantics, but I'm just pointing out the realistic roadblocks... and that SAR is a state issue while healthcare is a national issue. No state can do solo implement universal healthcare without committing economic suicide.

In Cham, I believe SAR is free for all. Other areas it's definitely pay/insurance, which combined with the user density and high relief allows for a totally different model than US SAR. Canada is mostly volunteer SAR like the US due to low density.

In Europe (and Canada) you better believe you are paying for healthcare if you aren't a citizen of the country (or province).

[fomofo]

If SAR is an essential service in Colorado provided for free so that no one declines a needed resuce why isn't health care free for everyone as well. In the whole country for that matter. Same logic applies.

The total number of SAR incidents for the entire state of CO for a whole YEAR is equal to the number of patients seen by 3 primary care providers per year. Or the number of SAR incidents is roughly the number of patients that visit one medium sized ER in a month. I don't really need to point out that there are over 150 ERs in CO that operate 12 months a year and ERs are only a small component of the healthcare system.

But a very profitable one...



Thanks, PE!

[XXX-er]

Up here the province will pay the chopper bill on the Provincial Emergency Program

we were jumping out of the chopper after a self rescue where an uninvolved but very savy guide had setup the rescue from somewhere out on the road with his phone so SAR wasnt even involved but there was a Voly SAR gal there at the heli base offering the PEP #

I've also heard of PEP paying a BIG chopper bill > 1 year later

[BCMtnHound]

Up here the province will pay the chopper bill on the Provincial Emergency Program

we were jumping out of the chopper after a self rescue where an uninvolved but very savy guide had setup the rescue from somewhere out on the road with his phone so SAR wasnt even involved but there was a Voly SAR gal there at the heli base offering the PEP #

I've also heard of PEP paying a BIG chopper bill > 1 year later

Just a bit more nuance.

No SAR response in BC starts without a task # from EMCR (previously PEP). Once the task number is issued, and until the subject is turned over to the tasking agency, the response is free of charge. Aircraft is paid under contract, it must be approved by the SAR Commander (tasking agency) and EMCR before being deployed - in most cases they will defer to the SAR Manager (local team) request, but not always. And in a bad fire year, aircraft availability can be scarce. This includes the RCMP heli, Coast Guard/military, or private aviation.

We’ve brought injured subjects out to the trailhead/road, and had them refuse the ambulance ride to emergency. We ‘escort’ their vehicle to the local clinic/hospital to ensure they arrive safe. Transfer from tasking aircraft to air ambulance also results in a change of service charge, but when the air ambulance is needed, the subject is not usually in a state to refuse the service.

Important to remember that use of aircraft is as much for the safety of SAR personnel as it is to assist in the response to a person(s) in distress. Ground response has many of its own challenges that may be mitigated by the use of aircraft, that might have little impact on the actual care provided to the subject.

[XXX-er]

Good to know ^^ I think shit doesnt always happen the way it should but the province still paid IME

Maybe 10 yrs ago, within 5 minutes the guide gets a call somewhere on the road in BC, buddy pulls over calls everyone on his go list including the pilot and organizes a rescue, both heli loads were boots on heli pad in exactly 2 hrs post event which is crazy fast, the # was issued after it was over, I know PEP paid it , a somewhat unusual self rescue

I duno exactly how but I know the heli bill for a SAR for a self guided ski hut trip festered on for > a year but I was told PEP also paid it

[old goat]

Just a bit more nuance.

No SAR response in BC starts without a task # from EMCR (previously PEP). Once the task number is issued, and until the subject is turned over to the tasking agency, the response is free of charge. Aircraft is paid under contract, it must be approved by the SAR Commander (tasking agency) and EMCR before being deployed - in most cases they will defer to the SAR Manager (local team) request, but not always. And in a bad fire year, aircraft availability can be scarce. This includes the RCMP heli, Coast Guard/military, or private aviation.

We’ve brought injured subjects out to the trailhead/road, and had them refuse the ambulance ride to emergency. We ‘escort’ their vehicle to the local clinic/hospital to ensure they arrive safe. Transfer from tasking aircraft to air ambulance also results in a change of service charge, but when the air ambulance is needed, the subject is not usually in a state to refuse the service.

Important to remember that use of aircraft is as much for the safety of SAR personnel as it is to assist in the response to a person(s) in distress. Ground response has many of its own challenges that may be mitigated by the use of aircraft, that might have little impact on the actual care provided to the subject.

When my wife broke her ankle on the stairs in our house I had to call Truckee FD ambulance to get her up off the floor and down two flights to the car for me to drive her to the ER. Never saw a bill for that one. (With my wife giving orders the whole time I'm sure the EMTs were too grateful to be turning her over to me to bother with a bill.)