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Omaha Fire wants fee for helping people off floor

Posted at 1:55 PM, Sep 10, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-10 15:13:01-04

It happens almost once a day and now the Omaha Fire Department wants to charge a $400 fee for helping uninjured people who cannot get up off the floor, according to our partners at the Omaha World-Herald.

The reason, according to Assistant Chief Kathy Bossmann, is that it can cost the department around $1,000 to complete the task and it takes away from other high-priority calls. 

A similar program has been in place in Lincoln since 2012. Lincoln Fire charges $349 for "lift assists." 

In Omaha, the fee would only apply if no medical problems are involved with the fall. 

Based on past numbers, the fee could net Omaha up to $100,000 each year. The City Council is scheduled to vote on the proposal tomorrow.