What's the done thing - ambulance blocking me in

[rightsofwomen]

Ambulance (no flashing lights) outside blocking me (and 5 neighbours) in.

Need to leave (non urgent) in 10 mins.
I can’t ask them to move, can I?

I would wait it out if it’s non-urgent.

Well it’s taking DS to cinema, so non urgent but obv time limited.

It might be gone soon. I think I'd just wait it out if my trip was non-urgent.

Can you beg a lift from someone not blocked in?

This happens to me quite a bit because next to our house is a set of sheltered accommodation houses, so the ambulances park across our drive if they need to visit one of the residents. I ask them if they're OK to move and they always do - not unreasonable if they're not flashing lights/ in the middle of an emergency! So I'd go and ask them but make sure it's not at the last minute as it might take them a few minutes to sort themselves out and move it!

Happens to us a lot. Our elderly neighbour has fairly regular falls and the ambulance often parks blocking our drive.

Last time we just called through the open door to ask if everything was ok, ambulance driver came out and said she was fine. I just asked if he'd mind moving the ambulance so I could get to work and he did.

Hope your neighbour is ok.

The open door of the house btw, she wasn't in the ambulance.

I don’t know which house they are in.
Giving DS a lesson in compassion and priorities.

If you know where they are politely go and ask them to move. If it's non-urgent I'm sure they'll be happy to.

Just knock on the door and politely ask if they are able to move. There are many reasons for an ambulance to attend and some non-emergency situations can take crew a long time to sort.

If there are no flashing lights i’d Politely ask them to move

Just knocked on one door, think I can see people inside (didn’t want to stare) but no answer. Think I’ll leave it.

Off for 2 weeks with work tomorrow and this was mama son treat. We shall make a cake.

I had this this other day but with the police. I didn't know which house they were in, so beeped my horn, just the one, quickly. I didn't go down well at all :( If fact I got a lesson in correct usage.

Does no flashing lights mean non emergency? Or just that it's not life and death.

I'd be inclined to wait. Ambulances don't attend for no reason?

Is there is a later showing? Can you call cinema and explain?

I wasn't aware stationary ambulances flashed lights to indicate seriousness of their attendance? Feels a bit like giving the curtain twitchers a bit too much info to me!

Can you attend the cinema later? If not can you walk/taxi. Remember films usually start about 20 minutes after advertised time.

Oh dear what a shame. Good lesson for your DS though.

I would wait. It's a shame for your DS but it's a useful life lesson. It's lovely that you've recognised that instead of being all angry like some would.
I hope you get to the film on time.

Why can't you just see a later showing?!

Ambulances don't use flashing lights when stationary in a residential area, so you've no idea how serious it is. Please don't go knocking when you really don't need to.

I thought the lights were to get traffic out of the way quickly rather than when they have actually arrived so not sure if seriousness indicated by lack of lights when stationary. Could you get a cab to the cinema?

It’s true, it may serious, we live rurally so siren maybe not needed.

Can’t go to later showing and not forking out for taxi. It’s not the end of the world.

Still got a small time buffer.

Call a taxi so you can still take your son?

It’s just gone! GO GO GO!

The flashing lights stop once they get to the patient. So not having lights on doesn't mean it isn't serious.

The unwell patient is probably inside being assessed. Not sure why it's on your drive but yes wait sorry.

Somebody came and asked whether our paramedics could move the ambulance once and I told them to fuck off. We were right in the middle of a scary situation and I really didn't need the interruption or the sense that they were distracting us and the paramedics.

That neighbour complained about it to other neighbours and got roundly told off by everybody.

So I'd leave it - like you say it's a shame, but a good chance for your DS to learn about priorities.