Gas prices are not only affecting American’s financial situation personally but also professionally, as many police, fire department, and even ambulance services have begun to feel the immense pressure of the rising costs.
Thanks to Joe Biden’s inept leadership and lack of action, the cost of gas is taking a toll on emergency services that people desperately need.
Ambulance providers have reported that responding to medical emergencies has hit a point so costly that it has never experienced before.
Ambulance providers that cover the costs of their own fuel are the most impacted by high gas prices. And these costs have hit Ross/West View Emergency Medical Services Authority’s budget tremendously hard.
Assistant director of the Ross/West View Emergency Medical Services Authority Greg Porter stated:
“Our average fuel cost is about $50,000 a year, and we’re already approaching that coming into June for this year. So, we’ll be very close to a 50 to 75 percent increase in 2022 for our fuel expenses.”
Porter said a consequence of the costly fuel has led to his crew having to limit what they do outside of 911 calls.
And again, not only are ambulance services being negatively impacted by the gas prices, police departments have also been forced to change how they respond to every 911 call.
For example, Isabella County in Michigan was one of the many police departments that were heavily affected. Isabella County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook announcing changes in their routine related to responding to calls as a result of exhausting “what funds were budgeted for fuel with several months to go before the budget reset.”
Here’s what Isabella County Sheriff Michael Main said in the post:
“I have instructed the deputies to attempt to manage whatever calls are acceptable over the phone. This would be non-in-progress calls, non-life-threatening calls, calls that do not require evidence collection or documentation…Any call that is in progress with active suspects will involve a response by the deputies. I want to assure the community that safety is our primary goal, and we will continue to respond to those types of calls.”
And they’re not alone, as Allegan County Sheriff’s Office made similar changes last month in response to rising gas prices.
Here’s what Lieutenant Bretton Ensfield told the radio station:
“Instead of having a deputy drive 20 miles to go take that complaint, the complaint may have to wait 10 to 15 minutes or so to have the closer car take the complaint, rather than have someone else driving to take the complaint.”
Now not only is the rising gas prices impacting our wallets, it’s also putting our safety at risk.
AAA has reported that gas prices across the nation have hit a record-high average of $4.99, nearly $2 higher than one year ago.
AAA also revealed that gas prices in Michigan had reached $5.214. While other states, like California, have seen prices reach higher than $7 per gallon.
Sources: TheGatewayPundit, ABC13, AAA
