Obesity Threatens Emergency Services: Report

More large animal vets needed to care for fat people.

"Extra wide beds, stronger toilets and special patient lifting devices are becoming more and more common in emergency rooms. The reason for such new equipment? Hospitals across the United States are struggling to handle increasing numbers of extra-large patients."

"Stronger toilets."

You know you are really fat when you need a titanium toilet.

"Some communities have had to invest in special bariatric ambulances -- trucks equipped with hoists and special stretchers to transport patients weighing up to 1,100 pounds. 'Occasionally the fire department may be called in to help remove a patient via cherry picker because they cannot be brought through the stairwell,' said Dr. Shelly Jacobson, chair of emergency medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York"

Money well-spent. Resources well-used.

Not.

Guess cherry pickers are not just for meting out justice anymore. (this link is not for the faint of heart)

Isn't it reasonable to expect that if someone is unable to fit through a doorway or down a stairwell, they should, without requiring assistance, be alerted to the fact that something is wrong here?

And make changes.

Please. Assume and expect some responsibility.

"This rise in obesity causes health problems in and of itself. Obese patients are more likely to have health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and liver disease, all of which can be life threatening. Obese people are likely to become sick and present themselves to emergency rooms, threatening to exceed the capacity."

More sick care costs to the rest of us from fat people who cannot keep their mouths shut, their forked and spooned hands from their pie-holes and just say "No" to swallowing.

Forgotten in the quote above is that "obese people are likely to make the rest of us sick."

"CT scanners and MRIs have weight limits of around 250 pounds. Heavier patients are unable to access these scans prompting calls to local zoos for the use of their animal scanners."

Better make sure your local zoo is in network, fat people.

And that your insurance covers the cost of private cages.

"The strains to the system are also financial. Hospitals have to invest in extra wide beds, wheel chairs, patient lifting devices and extra staff to help lift and transport patients. A special bariatric lifting device, called the Titan X, costs about $18,000. According to the press release, 'global sales in bariatric stretchers and lift systems are expected to soar in the next five years.'

'I'm not certain this is creating a crisis yet, but it is something we need to plan for and address with newer equipment," said Dr. Charles Emerman at the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic.'"

Chuck, get "certain." It is a crisis to those of us who have to pay for these irresponsible fat people.

"'Who will pay for this?' he asked. 'Hospitals may need a new revenue source.'"

News Flash!

Have the fat people pay for it!