Italy: Unnecessary Rescue Calls Will Cost Money
Italy's Guardia di Finanza, a police force that also handles sea and mountain rescues, has introduced new rules about emergency calls.
From now on, people who call for help without a real reason will have to pay for the cost of the rescue.
This kind of call is described as unjustified, meaning there was no true emergency.
In the past, rescue teams helped everyone for free, even in unclear or uncertain situations.
However, rescue operations often use boats, helicopters, and many trained workers, which makes them very expensive.
The Guardia di Finanza said that people who trigger a rescue without a good reason should now cover these costs themselves.
The new rule is meant to stop people from calling for help just to be safe, without a real problem.
Officials hope this will reduce the number of unnecessary calls and save resources for real emergencies.
People who are truly in danger will still receive help completely free, as before.
The fee for an unjustified call will depend on how large and difficult the rescue operation was.
This new policy is part of wider efforts to make rescue services more efficient and less costly for the state.
The Guardia di Finanza also wants people to be more careful and responsible when using mountain or sea areas.
Vocabulary7 words
- Guardia di Finanza
- an Italian police force that also helps with rescues
- unjustified
- without a real or good reason
- emergency
- a sudden situation where help is urgently needed
- expensive
- costing a lot of money
- fee
- money you must pay for a service
- resources
- money, people, or tools used to do something
- efficient
- working well without wasting time or money
Quiz
Answer key
1. Payment for unjustified rescue calls 2. They use boats, helicopters, and many workers 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Italy's Guardia di Finanza has introduced new _____ about emergency calls.
People who call for help without a real reason will have to _____ for the rescue.
This kind of call is described as _____, meaning there was no true emergency.
Rescue operations often use boats, helicopters, and many trained _____.
This makes them very _____ for the state.
People who trigger a rescue without a good reason should now cover these _____ themselves.
The new rule is meant to stop people from calling for help just to be _____.
Officials hope this will reduce the number of _____ calls.
The _____ for an unjustified call will depend on the size of the operation.
This policy is part of wider efforts to make rescue services more _____.