L.A. County Ambulances Rationing Oxygen

The transcript discusses the severe impact of COVID-19 on Los Angeles, highlighting the strain on healthcare resources due to prolonged lockdowns. Ambulances are instructed to ration care, only transporting patients likely to survive. Hospitals face resource shortages, with staff overwhelmed by patient numbers. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) have set strict guidelines for care, and California's low hospital bed rate exacerbates the situation. Patients often wait hours in ambulances before being admitted, and the mortality rate is high, with one person dying every 10 minutes from COVID-19 in LA County.

What measure has been taken by ambulances in LA County due to the COVID-19 crisis?

• Providing free masks to patients

• Increasing the number of ambulances

• Rationing care and oxygen

• Transporting all patients to hospitals

Why are doctors in LA County unable to intubate patients effectively?

• Overwhelming number of patients per doctor

• Hospital policy restrictions

• Lack of training

• Shortage of intubation equipment

What is a significant reason for the rapid overwhelming of hospitals in California?

• High number of healthcare workers

• Lower rates of hospital beds per capita

• Advanced medical technology

• Strict lockdown measures

How long might patients wait in an ambulance before being admitted to the ER in LA County?

• 2 hours

• 4 hours

• 6 hours

• 8 hours

On average, how often does a person die from COVID-19 in LA County?

• Every 15 minutes

• Every 10 minutes

• Every 5 minutes

• Every 20 minutes