Very important thing all Catholics with cell phones can do for the salvation of souls!

[Tradycja]

This morning walking back from Mass I saw some police taking care of a man who I overheard said that he thinks he is having a heart attack. Then an ambulance came. So I made my way back over to the rectory to notify the priest.

Anyway, one thing that dawned on me is that I do not have the number to the nearby parish in my cell phone. I could have just called them on my cell phone instead of walking all the way back to the parish during which time precious moments could have been lost in case someone was dying.

Anyway, as a practical point of evangelization might I suggest that we keep the numbers of the local parishes in our cell phone? I mean in general there are certain areas that we visit all the time, for example work, etc. Why not have the phone numbers of all of our local parishes as well as the parishes that surround our workplaces in our cell phones so that if we see some accident we can easily tip-off the local priest.

 

[purplesunshine]

Unfortunately unless your relative is injured “tipping off” the priest does no good. HIPPA laws prevents the hospital from saying one word about any patient.

I’m not sure running back to the priest really did much.

 

[coolduude]

Or you could call 411 and get the number that way

But you’re right it would make sense to store the number for situations exactly like this.

 

[Tradycja]

Unfortunately unless your relative is injured “tipping off” the priest does no good. HIPPA laws prevents the hospital from saying one word about any patient.

I’m not sure running back to the priest really did much.

If you read my post carefully. The police were already there taking care of the patient. I wasn’t referring to someone that was already admitted to the hospital.
It was down the street from the parish so I didn’t lose anything. At very least I may have gained myself and the priest an indulgence.

And I mean at very least the priest can go near the ambulance and say “I am available if the patient wants me” and then the paramedics can inform the patient of the option. No breaking of HIPPA laws there. Also in Catholic cities there are many cops and paramedics that are sympathetic to Catholicism still so I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that it could do some good.