Emergency Services

There appears to be a terrible inadequacy of emergency services for the citizens of Los Angeles. While the closure of many emergency services in Los Angeles has made national news, the evidence of this travesty was painfully clear as my family celebrated my mother’s birthday at a restaurant in Marina del Rey. Because of a large glass window overlooking the street, most patrons in the restaurant heard and observed a woman get hit by a car, and thrown about 10 feet through the air. A policeman arrived within a couple of minutes, and fortunately, an off-duty paramedic dining in the restaurant rushed to her aid.

The travesty is the length of time it took for an ambulance to arrive on the scene. As the whole restaurant watched the anxiety and terror of the woman’s husband and the driver of the car, a full 15 minutes passed before a firetruck arrived. It was another 5 minutes before the ambulance arrived. This is a full 20-minute response, when Daniel Freeman Hospital is less than two blocks away.

Being vice president of a hospital in Santa Cruz County, I am aware of the crisis facing health care. I am also aware that a 20-minute response time for such a serious accident is unacceptable. Government needs to take a serious look at the way health care is funded, and needs to make health care a priority. The people of Los Angeles deserve better treatment. I urge everyone to let their elected officials hear that message.

DORI EDSON

Aptos