1. Before you phone for an ambulance, write down the location of the emergency and the telephone number that you are calling from. This may sound obvious, but in a crisis it's the simple things that are forgotten. 2. The first person you speak to will be the BT Operator who will ask: "Which service do you require?” Try to stay calm 3. Ask for Ambulance. You will hear a ringing tone while the operator connects to the Ambulance Dispatch Centre.
4. You will then speak to Ambulance Call Taker who will ask you – “Ambulance emergency, what number are you calling from?” You will then be asked - “What is the address of the emergency?” and “What is the emergency?” 5. As soon as the Ambulance Service knows the location of the incident, help is arranged. - Community First Responder - Community Paramedic Officer - Ambulance A+E Vehicle
6. You will be asked some details about the condition of the patient or patients and the nature of the emergency. Are you with the patient now? How many people are hurt/sick The patient's age? Male or female? Is he/she conscious? Is he/she breathing? This information can be sent to the Ambulance while they are traveling to you. 7. The Call taker will give you advice to allow you to help the patient before the ambulance arrives.
Here are some other tips that can help: · Keep a look out for the ambulance. The address may not be as obvious as you may think. · If possible, get someone to meet the ambulance and show them where the emergency is. · If it is dark, leave a light on. This will help make your house more obvious at night. · And finally, remember, before we can help you we have to find you. Make sure we can read your house name or number from the street - day or night.
Think Twice - An Inappropriate Call Can Cost A Life a pensioner who could not reach his TV remote control a person who needed their light bulb changing a teenager who had drunk a can of out-of-date cola are among the many callers who have summoned the help of emergency ambulance crews.
Up to 65 per cent of patients who call 999 callers can have their problem dealt with effectively in their local community by calling in at a Minor Injury Unit or contacting their GP or a Pharmacist.
NHS Direct offers medical advice and health information 24 hours a day. To contact NHS Direct call 08 45 46 47. Alternatively, the NHS Direct website provides a wealth of information on on things such as self-help, finding a local service and common health questions.
Please think before you call an ambulance and remember you should only call one in a real emergency The Service urges people to think before they call an ambulance as their need may not be as great as someone else. If our staff are tied up dealing with someone with a minor problem, another person with a life-threatening condition may not get the help they need.
