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Over the weekend, I had to take my baby to the emergency room with a high fever. It was a rainy night.

When we got to the emergency room, the Emergency parking lot (close to the doors) was full of cars. I figured it must be a busy night at the emergency room. We wound up having to park all the way on the other side of the parking lot and walking across the lot with my sick baby in the rain. (Her dad is overseas. I had nobody along to just drop us off at the door)

When I got in the emergency room, I found out that there was only one person there, and all the other cars were people that had come to wait and find out about him. It was obviously very serious- they were all upset.

My question is, though, if you aren't dropping someone off at the emergency room, should you not park in the other lot and leave emergency parking available for people who actually are bringing sick or injured people in? What if instead of a sick baby I was bringing an elderly person with a broken leg?

2007-09-22 05:45:22 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture Etiquette

6 answers

I think you're right, but also, if these other people were waiting and checking on someone who was very seriously injured, then they probably weren't exactly thinking clearly or in any condition to give it much thought! They were all upset too, I bet most of them aren't selfish or careless if you met them under better conditions.

Instead of walking further with your baby, you could've tried to double-park with the blinkers on, rush in and inside immediately explain the situation to a nurse. They could then either hold the baby (or grandma) while you parked your car, or ask someone of the waiting folks to move their vehicle so you could have their spot.

If you came with someone who *really* can't walk, you'd probably have to leave the car at the curb with blinkers on & get help and/or a wheelchair to get them inside anyhow.

2007-09-22 17:21:52 · answer #1 · answered by Sheriam 7 · 1 0

I'm not sure but I think you can atleast pull up to the drop off area and leave your car there for a bit if you explain to them the situation. No hospital should want you to carry your baby in the rain to the front door because the lot was full. Also, are you saying a majority of the cars were people you knew who were checking on your baby? Because if so, you may want to make the call to the family and friends after you've arrived to the emergency room and got that close spot. Just a thought :)

Hope your baby is better.

2007-09-22 13:38:04 · answer #2 · answered by Rainey 4 · 1 1

If you'd been bringing an elderly person with a broken leg you SHOULD have called an ambulance... They have access right to the doors. There is no parking lot etiquette. They are all in the E.R. waiting for someone. They had as much right to park there as anyone else.

**ALL parents need to remember that our kids are not as cute, smart, or important to anyone as they are to us. No one has the responsibility to say, "somebody might come with a sick baby", and park elsewhere. You could have gotten your kid into the e.r. without walking clear across a parking lot in the rain.

2007-09-22 13:13:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

The parking lot shouldn't have been filled up, you're totally right, that they should have parked somewhere else, because they were not directly the ones having the emergency. Luckily there was no real trouble with having to carry your baby to the ER, but it was still a total inconvenience.

I don't really have any advice to give, because I'm not sure how to handle that situation, because it would seem wrong for me to tell you to ask if someone would move.

I hope your baby is doing better...and I wish people didn't do things like that.

2007-09-22 13:00:03 · answer #4 · answered by Whooosh! 4 · 1 1

I agree with you. The only defense is that the upset people may not have been thinking clearly or when they arrived the lot was empty, so assumed that it would remain so.

But, yes, there is no reason for anyone to park in that lot unless you have an actual emergency and it is illegal to do so.

2007-09-22 12:54:38 · answer #5 · answered by Pirate AM™ 7 · 2 1

One aspect of duyukdv (a Cherokee term somewhat equivalent to "living the right way") is to think of the children and the elders first. Modern mainstream American culture lost the concept somewhere along the way. You're exactly right that someone who isn't dropping someone off at the ER should park farther away. That's to be done out of respect for others.

2007-09-22 12:55:18 · answer #6 · answered by Danagasta 6 · 2 2

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