
Not completing the level means no update to the stat even though patients are actually rescued. In GTA III, a level has to be completed in order for the "patients rescued" stat be updated. Failing the paramedic side mission results in the player having to start from the first level, except in GTA Vice City Stories and GTA Advance, where the player can resume from the last checkpoint. The side mission can be failed by ending the side mission, leaving or destroying the Ambulance, killing one patient, which can occur after numerous bumps (which hurts the patient) or running over patients, and being killed or arrested. The Ambulance can carry up to three patients at one time (except GTA Advance where the number of passengers is unlimited). After completing level twelve (level fifteen in GTA Vice City Stories), the player is rewarded. Each new level adds one new patient to collect. The hospital is the closest one to where the player began the side mission.

The Paramedic side mission involves the player locating, picking up and delivering patients to the hospital within a time limit.


The instruction above indicates that poor driving will reduce your chances of getting back to the hospital with the patient alive, though this is an over-exaggeration. Therefore it is recommended you turn on your sirens and have completed at least some of the Driving Schools Missions. Compared to other side missions like Firefighter Missions, the time limit here is far stricter. Once in possession of an Ambulance, you need to enable the Paramedic side mission as you would others and prepare for a hectic race against time.

That being said, if you are comfortable losing a small amount of money, dying causes you to respawn at a hospital, where there will almost always be an Ambulance parked up.
