How to call 999

help (on the phone).png If you need an ambulance it is really important you know how to get help.

choose_thumb.jpg You only need an ambulance in an emergency.

If you call for an ambulance when it is not an emergency it means that someone who really needs help may have to wait longer and may become more poorly.

If it is an emergency you need to call 999

When you call 999 you will be asked some questions.

What you need to know:

good to know.jpg

whats-is-your-emergency.png Which service do you require?

ambulance.png Say ambulance

ambulance-health-advisor.png The people who answer our phones are called Health Advisors

name-address-telephone.jpg They will ask you some questions:

  • Your name
  • Your address (if you're not at home look for a street name, landmark, school, shop or pub name)
  • Your telephone number

good to know.jpg   wallet.png

If you do not already know these, it would be good to ask someone to help you learn them or write them down and carry them with you maybe in your wallet or purse.

What else is important to be able to tell the health advisor?

ambulance-health-advisor.png The health advisor will ask what the emergency is

calling-about-the-patient.png They may ask "are you with the patient now?" - this means are you with the poorly person you are calling about

unconscious.png They may ask "is the patient conscious?"

This means is the person who is poorly awake and are you able to talk to them.

breathing-problem.jpg They may ask "is the patient breathing?"

You can check this by looking to see if their chest moves up and down or you can feel air coming from their mouth.

ambulance.png They may ask you other questions.

Don't worry, try to answer them as best you can and they will decide if the poorly person needs an ambulance.

What happens next?

help (on the phone).png The health advisor will tell you what to do.

stay-on-the-line-999.png They may tell you to stay on the line - this means stay on the phone and they will keep talking to you.

ambulance-fast-response.png If they send an ambulance it might be a fast response ambulance

This means it will have the blue lights flashing and have loud sirens going.

Loud.png It can be very loud. Don't be scared, the crew are there to help.

anxious.jpg If they do not send a fast response ambulance they will tell you how long it may take and what to do.

If it takes longer and you are worried, please call back.