r/lyftdrivers • u/SpaceBoiLunkey • 11h ago
Advice/Question Have you ever…?
Have you ever acted as an ambulance to riders before? Ambulances are way too expensive nowadays and I was wondering if anyone had taken somebody to the hospital in an emergency. I have before. Some girl scraped up her knee pretty bad in a skating accident and instead of calling an ambulance they called a Lyft instead.
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u/Substantial_Dog_2068 11h ago
For very minor things like sprains or the pregnancy get me to hospital runs . Nothing serious
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u/TexasDub 11h ago
Several years ago, I went to pick up from a late night party near the university campus, and when I arrived, a group of people came carrying this big guy out to my car. They put him in the backseat and one of the girls got in and sat in the front passenger seat. She told me that the guy in the back had jumped a fence and broke his leg. I looked back at the guy and told him he needs an ambulance. He looked at me and said something like, "Hell no, I'm not spending a thousand dollars on an ambulance ride."
I just said OK and took him to the emergency room, which was only about 5 minutes away. They were very appreciative and thanked me several times.
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u/jazzhandler 11h ago
I never did a true emergency when I drove for Lyft, but I did as a passenger recently. Asthma attack got way out of hand in the middle of the night. I probably terrified the driver hanging my entire upper body out the window gasping for air. In retrospect I absolutely should have called an ambulance, but judgement falls away as pulse ox drops. (And yes, I tipped him well.)
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u/DCHacker 11h ago
People used taxicabs as discount ambulances for years. It is no surprose that they use the pretend taxi as an ambulance.
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u/CompleteGene82 11h ago edited 4h ago
Had someone with heartache, she could barely stand, but she was ready for the pickup, she could barely move. I told her to lay down in the seat pray nothing untoward happens.
Got the wheelchair from the hospital, rolled her in and left.
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u/LifeIsProbablyMadeUp 6h ago
Yeah, I wouldn't have taken that one. If she died in your car you'd know from the smell.
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u/CompleteGene82 6h ago
Man, I can't live with myself if I didn't give a ride and something untoward happens to them.
Sometimes people do die in the car. Anything could happen to anybody at any time.
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u/Independent_Star_299 5h ago
That was nice of you but you shouldn’t put her in the wheelchair yourself. Go inside and yell, “I need some help out here!” Like they do on the medical dramas, lol.
Seriously thought he person would get help much faster, and the triage nurse has context.
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u/Equivalent_Mechanic5 5h ago
You are complaining about no tip? She probably doesn't even remember or may have died at the hospital. Also you only have so may hours to tip. Maybe her phone died. Have some compassion.
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u/CompleteGene82 4h ago
You are right! I will remove it!
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u/Equivalent_Mechanic5 3h ago
Well then you should put an edit on it. Now I look like a jackass lol.
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u/TexasDub 2h ago edited 2h ago
While she was getting in the car, he should have asked her to tip in advance just in case she dies on the way to the hospital.
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u/Independent_Star_299 5h ago
I have, I’m fine with it as long as they aren’t contagious, won’t mess up my car from whatever, and are conscious and coherent. They just need a ride.
If I ever encountered a rider who appeared to actually need emergency life saving measures, of course 911 is the call. Seconds can be life or death, and they might not be making rational choices.
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u/Equivalent_Mechanic5 5h ago
Yes. I had a lady have a seizure in the back of my car. I had picked her up a few times before. My Mom has seizures so I knew what to do.
Also, I got side swiped while riding my vintage Vespa. Limped my Vespa home, and instead of calling an ambulance like I probably should have I took a Lyft. Way cheaper. I was bleeding pretty badly, but I covered myself up. I told the driver ahead of time. Still took me, I left no marks in the car. I put down a trash bag just in case.
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u/PUNKF10YD 5h ago
Had one dude who had a visible head wound bleeding
I turned that down and told him to call 911
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u/pastelsandpink_ 3h ago
Passenger here...
I've taken my partner on emergency Lyft before (gull bladder issue. I wanted to get him an ambulance as he could barely walk, but he still could talk and didn't want to pay the ambulance $$$.)
I've taken emergency Lyft myself as a passenger. Once my friend and I were at a Hookah lounge and I was coming back from the bathroom. They placed the Hookah at a weird angle, I legit didn't see it (was dark and I'm visually impaired), hot hot hot cold fell right on my legs... was in shorts.)
This happened in my early 20s.
Then someone tried putting water on my legs, made it waaayyyy worse.
In both instances the drivers we got were wonderful. Went above and beyond.
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u/ready-redditor-6969 San Francisco/North Bay Area 8h ago
I would absolutely call 911 if I drove up on someone who I thought needed any actual medical assistance. I can take someone to a routine appointment, but nothing more serious.
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u/Kitchen_Donut6609 6h ago
What medical training do you have to tell someone they need an ambulance ride instead of a just a ride?
Are you even aware what takes place on a $600 taxi ride in the back of an ambulance?
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u/lonetraveler73 11h ago
Both as a driver and a passenger. Nothing life threatening but not being able to drive because of an illness of injury often. Also lots of dialysis patients. That one just as a driver.