Taxpayer Cost of Emergency Crews Responding to a Call for Someone Falling

By: Elizabeth Lamb Email
By: Elizabeth Lamb Email

HARRISONBURG, Va. -- Hundreds of people fall down a year in Harrisonburg.

Wanda Willis, a safety instructor, said people should work to keep that number as low as possible in the Valley.

“We want to make sure that everybody is aware that they can take precautions and be safe and go ahead and do your activities and things like that, but you might have to go ahead and take more precautions so you don't get hurt when you fall,” said Willis.

On average, the Harrisonburg Emergency Response Center responds to about 110 calls a month, which costs taxpayer money. A dispatcher with the emergency response center said that number is consistent all year and doesn't change during the winter or summer months.

Each emergency call can cost an average of $150 to $200 dollars for rescue squads to respond. The amount of money a call costs depends on how many people are dispatched and where the person lives. That means about $17,000 is spent each year to respond to those calls.

Fire department employees want people to stay safe, especially in icy, cold weather. First responders are asking people to exercise regularly, take time walking and make sure walking paths are clear.

Some common places people fall include doorways, ramps and cluttered hallways.



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