First Aid Kit expenses - not tax deductible ?

Question

You are first aider saving someones life in the street, calling the ambulance, using your own disposable Personal Protectiv Equipment( it's quiet expensive), risking your own life by contracting fatal deseases..etc. Why isn't the Government alowing to claim tax on those expenses - as individual, not belonging to some Company. How many first aiders in the street saving lives, ambulance just came and get the injured already equiped with bandages..etc. Should the Aus.Government, introduce to the Ambulance officers some kind of paper work, so the first aider can get a free First Aid kit - from any pharmacy or to be able to claim the expenses in tax return?

Answer 1

You KNOW that if the government of ANY country does this, they would raise taxes in some way to cover it.

Let's look at some of your points:

- Calling the ambulance in the US and on most cell phones is free. Even if it is not, it is under $1USD.

- Personal Protective Equipment expensive? A box of 100 pairs of gloves runs about $6USD, so they are about 12 cents a pair.

-The risk of catching a disease in this situation is minimal according to all studies I have seen.  

- How many first aiders in the streets? Dang few, sadly, in most of the world. Most of the time, the ambulances arrive to find little if anything done, and most of what is done is wrong.

You imply that a lot of expensive supplies are used. You can by a box of 2" roller gauze for a few bucks, and one of 4x4" gauze pads for about the same. Add a buck for a roll of tape, and all together we are at about $10.

Now- if you want to propose the creation of a category called something like 'Citizen Responder'- people with proper training and equipment who respond to emergencies in their neighborhood to help before the paramedics arrive, and get reimbursed by the job... I would support you in something like that.

Answer 2

What you are doing is a wonderful service to the community, and may not get you the appreciation you deserve. There are many people like you in our society who go out of their way to help others at some considerable personal monetary cost, not to mention the many hours they spend doing community service. As far as the Government is concerned, you have not been forced to do this service. You have done it because you have chosen to do so, and probably get some satisfaction thereby. This then is your only reward and consolation. Right now there are dozens of people who have been helping Meals on Wheels to deliver food to needy people. The high cost of petrol is making them consider giving this voluntary community service away. Probably if enough of you volunteers approached your local Members of Parliament and asked them to approach the Government for subsidies it will have some effect. Especially in the lead up to any elections.

You are all worth your 'weight in gold' as the saying goes. Keep up the good work!

Answer 3

Do you get paid for this?  You can't claim expenses if the expenses exceed the assessable income from that particular activity.

This is a cost of doing community service, we don't get paid for our time we donate to others.