My wife said she read the EMT's in New York were at Heath Ledger's apartment in 8 minutes?

[RB TexLa]

First, I think that is incredible.

I would not expect them to respond for at least 30 minutes, when my father died it was probably 45 or so minutes until they got there.

I didn't make the call then and don't know exactly when it was made there were police officers there so I just always assumed one of them called. I have never actually called 911 for anything.

In an urban/suburban setting is 8 or 45 more the norm?

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Norm, protocol says you shall be at call in ten minutes

that is the gold standard... and leave the scene with patient in ten minutes

The idea is to get your patient to the hospital in less than an hour, the golden hour

[nonconformist]

2. I had to call 911 for my great-grandmother a couple of times in suburban Detroit

They always got there within 5-10 minutes.

[Akoto]

3. They were really fast when my mom had her heart attack.

She was at the doctor's office. The doc called for them and they were there in a snap. I think the only way they could've been any faster was by way of teleportation. :)

[Historic NY]

4. I live 60 miles north of NY City.......my volunteer/paid EMS

is on the scene within 6 minutes of a 911 call if not sooner.

[TahitiNut]

5. They got to me in 5 minutes from the time I called.

It only took about 10 minutes to put me on the gurney and into the ambulence. After that, we were at the emergency room in 10-15 minutes. It was fast. Less than 30 minutes from call to ER doctor.

[Contrary1]

6. I am in Indianapolis...

When I called 911 for my mom, they arrived in approx. 6 minutes, from about 4 miles away, though it seemed like much longer.

My brother is an EMT/Fireman. According to him, the response time could depend on if there was another emergency they had been called on, and how far away.

[pnwmom]

7. In an urban setting 8 is much closer to the norm -- especially when it is

a matter of life and death.

When you called 911, were you certain that your father was already dead?

[RB TexLa]

8. I didn't call anyone.

[pnwmom]

11. Do you know if whoever called told 911 that he was already dead?

If there is any question about death, any urban or large suburban unit would try to be there within a few minutes.

[RB TexLa]

12. I would think they just told them it was a heart attack

It was almost 22 years ago, and not something I'm really wanting to go into. I do remember the reports said he had a faint pulse when they got there.

[pnwmom]

15. I understand. Hopefully in their area response times are better now

than they were 22 years ago. But even 20 years ago, when we moved into our suburb, response times were 10 minutes or less. Some of the further out suburbs do take longer, but 45 minutes would be a disgrace.

[Kittycat]

9. 6-8 minutes here - FarWest Chicago burbs.

We've called no less than 4 times for our son, and each time they've made it to the house withint 6-8min (two different homes/towns).

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. About 10 to 15 minutes here

[Raejeanowl]

13. I'm Lucky Where I Am

Suburban on the edge of rural, smack dab less than a mile in either direction from two fire/EMT companies and about three miles from a third that also happens to be situated basically across the street from the regional hospital. I'm also less than a mile from a county police station.

When I needed them, they got to me in three minutes flat.

I feel good, real good, about all of that.

[Codeine]

14. Urban Southern California

I can expect emergency services within 5-6 minutes, easy. Traffic in New York may be different.

[mikus1975]

16. This is unacceptable.

As a healthcare professional, someone should be accountable for this. He may have been saved.

[Maddy McCall]

17. Eight minutes is a great response time.

I live in a rural setting. Low population density, greater geographical spread, means that often it takes 20 to 30 minutes for EMTs to arrive at a call. The average response time here is 15 minutes.

Of course, here, ambulances are privatized. We had better response time when the county ran the ambulance service.