To the Editor:

I have recently read two letters to the editor (“Road to Mid Coast paved with fright,” Oct. 31; “Hospital road is treacherous,” Oct. 17) from persons concerned about “rushing to the emergency room.”

As a health care provider, I have spent some time contemplating when it might be appropriate for persons in private vehicles to “rush” to the hospital rather than use an ambulance. The list is short and mostly not realistic.

Look around. Not all ambulances on transports are driving loud and fast. Rushing implies using excess of posted speed which is risking life and limbs of other drivers, bikers, pedestrians as well as the driver and the sick or injured individual.

If time is truly a critical issue, an ambulance with trained personnel should be called. They are calm and objective. They are trained to begin treatment in the field and maintain it during transport. They are the driving experts and have the lighting, sirens and equipment to move as rapidly as necessary and keep everyone safe. They can radio information to the hospital so that action can be taken immediately on arrival and not funneled through a walk-in system. They will get you to the most appropriate emergency room for certain conditions, and are aware of when certain hospitals are overly busy or crowded.

Straight or curvy roads exist throughout Maine. I could give you a list of when you should call an ambulance, but I won’t.

If you think every minute matters, keep everybody safe and dial 911.

Lynda Hartzell
Brunswick