By Rachel Engel
MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. — Mobile first responders are resorting to transporting patients in rescue trucks due to a lack of ambulances.
Amid a surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations, patients are being forced to wait up to 12 hours in ambulances until hospital beds are available, tying up valuable personnel, NBC 15 reported.
“We are going to end up having loss of life in Mobile because of the impact COVID has on our hospital capacity,” Mobile County Health Department Dr. Bernard Eichold said. “If you have a heart attack, you may not be able to get an ambulance to get to the hospital, and if you get to the hospital in your own car, they may not be able to take you in to the hospital.”