Knowing when it is suitable to call an ambulance is a very important life skill to know. If the ambulance service is bogged down by unnecessary calls this could lead to people who are in imminent danger not getting the service that they require.
In this blog, we will cover some of the aspects of a life-threatening situation as well as how to assess if the accident that you have came upon requires a 999 call.
When do I call an Ambulance?
A lot of people when they first encounter an incident look to see how they can help first, and this is admirable! However it is always a good idea to call an ambulance immediately after you have asses the need for one. If you try to help you could be wasting vital minutes where the ambulance could be on its way, and those minutes could be the difference between life or death!
Another common problem that can happen at road incidents or a site of an accident that a lot of witnesses are around, is that everyone assumes that someone else called 999 and in fact no one has. This happens more than you think! Remember it is always better to have called twice than never at all!
How do I know if I should call an ambulance?
At some point in their life, most people will witness or be involved in some sort of accident or medical emergency. Knowing what to do and when you should call the emergency services can potentially save lives. Here we will cover some of the situations to be aware of when it comes to calling for an ambulance.
If it is not a life-threatening emergency, consider other options such as calling NHS 111, seeking medical advice from your GP or self-care at home before calling 999 or 112.
If someone is having a life-threatening emergency they may have one of these symptoms:
- severe bleeding
- severe allergic reactions
- severe burns or scalds
- loss of responsiveness
- breathing difficulties
- severe, persistent chest pain
- an acute, confused state
- seizures that are not stopping
These signs could mean a serious injury that needs immediate attention! If someone shows these signs you are entirely within your rights to call an ambulance in these situations!
St Johns Ambulance has some great blogs that cover more questions like these, check them out here!
