Chiming in with my disabled hat on, the reason I've never called an ambulance for myself is quite simply because if I called an ambulance every time I fall over and can't get up straight away, or every time I'm in so much pain I end up audibly yelping, 999 would be on my speed-dial and I'd know all the local ambo staff by name. Usually I can get up after just having a little nap on the floor for a while and then crawling to the bed or the sofa or whatever... usually within twenty minutes or so the overwhelming pain subsides enough for me to be able to think my way through getting my painkillers for myself. I know that these are the parameters and I really don't see the point in worrying unless, as you say with these old people with chest pain, it carries on *severely* for several hours despite painkillers. Whereas someone who isn't elderly or disabled is far more inclined to panic if they're suddenly on the floor and can't get up and/or yelping in pain and/or having trouble breathing etc etc etc. For them, it's a one-off, it causes panic, it's worth worrying about. For me and people like me, it's more "oh bugger not again... let's see if it wears off."