New York, December 02, 2025
Ambulance demand across several U.S. regions, including Riverside County, California, has surged in late 2025 as the 2024–2025 flu season intensifies, causing increased emergency call volumes and delays at hospital emergency departments. This rise is driven by the severe flu strain affecting a broad population and straining healthcare systems nationwide.
Ambulance Demand and Patient Offload Delays
Emergency medical services (EMS) reported a 1.5% increase in 9-1-1 ambulance responses and a 0.9% rise in patient transports in Riverside County during Week 35 of 2025. Similar patterns have been observed nationally, with many ambulances experiencing offload delays exceeding 90 minutes as hospitals struggle to accommodate the influx. These delays disrupt ambulance availability, impacting emergency response times.
Increasing Severity of the Flu Season
The 2024–2025 flu season has proven more severe than previous years. Data indicates that 35% of flu patients visited emergency departments within 30 days of their diagnosis, compared to 24% in earlier seasons. Hospitalization rates have risen significantly to 7%, up from 4.9% in 2022–2023 and 5.6% in 2023–2024, highlighting the elevated burden on acute care facilities.
Underlying Factors Driving the Surge
Several factors contribute to this heightened flu activity. The severity of flu cases and related complications, especially among patients with pre-existing health conditions, is a major driver—89% of hospitalized flu patients have at least one underlying condition. Additionally, post-pandemic shifts in population immunity, changes in public health behavior, and evolving viral circulation patterns have led to increased demand for emergency care.
Healthcare System Impact
Hospitals nationwide are facing increased patient volumes, longer emergency department wait times, and pressures that extend to ambulance services. Prolonged patient offload times at hospitals not only impede ambulance turnaround but also strain resources intended for other medical emergencies, complicating the overall emergency response framework.
Broader Significance and Preparedness
The current flu season is among the most challenging in over a decade, placing unprecedented stress on emergency medical and hospital systems. This trend underlines the critical need for robust public health strategies, including enhanced vaccination efforts and hospital capacity planning, to mitigate the ongoing impact and improve system resilience amid seasonal surges.
As healthcare providers and policymakers navigate these pressures, close monitoring and adaptive preparedness remain essential to address the demands posed by this severe influenza season.