Should fire departments or other agencies charge morbidly obese people when they need help getting out of their houses?
A fire brigade said today it is considering starting to charge if it has to help move fat people. Fire chiefs in Lancashire say they are considering the fee to be charged on hospitals, nursing homes, the police or other agencies if they are called in to move grossly overweight members of the public.
Fire crews are often called upon by police, hospital, nursing home or ambulance staff simply because they alone cannot move grossly fat members of the public. Charging other agencies for help was one idea put forward in a Risk Management Plan where the lifting of people who are `bariatric` - the medical term for obese - was considered.
The spokesman said crews had been called out a number of times to people weighing in excess of 30 stones. Last year, the brigade was called out eight times to assist other services in lifting obese patients - double the number in 2004.
"Lancashire...stones..." This is British, right? I don't know how it works there, but I would never go for this in America. No one is more or less worthy of saving just because of his or her weight.
On 12/10/2007 3:50:16 PM IRLIteach wrote: "Lancashire...stones..." This is British, right? I don't know how it works there, but I would never go for this in America. No one is more or less worthy of saving just because of his or her weight.
30 stone = 420 pounds = 190.5 killograms (I looked it up)
Fat people pay taxes just like thin people. Those taxes pay for the fire department and other public agencies. Fat people have just as much right to use those services without additional charge as anyone else.
On 12/12/2007 5:29:55 PM twirlgirl198 wrote: Are they talking about saving their lives in a fire or just moving them because they are too fat to move themselves?
I believe it's more about moving them if they need to go to the hospital or something
If it's just for moving them, then they should charge money for it, they are after all taking them away from other important duties which may occur at these times.
If there is a fire, then of course not. then they are just doing their job.
Share 
