If you were ever to find yourself in the situation of calling 999 we would like to ensure you have the skills to answer the triage questions quickly and effectively. This will result in the best outcome for the person you are helping. So here are our top tips!
Number 1: Know where you are!
After breathing and consciousness the next question you will be asked for is your address. It is essential you have an accurate location. If you are in public place try and use your phone to get a postcode. If you are in a remote location you can always use a grid reference in the format of longitude and latitude or what3words.
Number 2: Start CPR and get an AED
The control room operator will talk you through what to do,but if you have been on a First Aid course you will know that the sooner you start basic life support on a person who is in cardiac arrest the higher the percentage chance of survival. If you have had training do not wait to be told what to do. It is OK to be nervous, just get started and theycanalways check you are doing it correctly.
Number 3: When a person is breathing and not unconscious, listen!
At least they are not unconscious and they are still breathing, so no matter how serious it seems you now do have time to listen to the operator. He or she is going to take you through a series of questions designed to rule out life threatening emergencies such as bleeding, injury, heart attacks and strokes. The questions can take time but are essential in deciding who needs the ambulance more urgently when faced with two persons with the similar signs and symptoms.
Number 4: Know your response times based on what is wrong with your ambulance patient
When aperson is not breathing an ambulance arrival time will be with 8 minutes.
When a person has an immediately life threatening condition but is breathing, the ambulance response time is 18 minutes.
When they require an emergency ambulance but they do not have an immediately life threateningcondition it could be up to 2 hours. If this is the case you may haveresources to manage their condition or may want to think about another method of getting them to hospital.
Number 5: The advice at the end of the call will help you care for your patient in the meantime
After an ambulance has been arranged you will be given advice on how to manage your patient. This may including giving them emergency medications and how to keep them warm and comfortable.
Number 6: Think SAMPLE whilst you wait
If you are waiting for an ambulance you have time to carry out a SAMPLE survey, this is taught on all First Aid courses and includes:
- Signs and Symptoms
- Age and Alllergies
- MedicationsPast history
- Last eaten
- Events leading up to what happened
All this information can be passed onto the ambulance crew.
Number 7: You can also call 112 or 111 depending on the emergency
Remember you can call 112 if you are calling internationally, 111 is the non emergency number but it the patient is in a seriouscondition an ambulance can be sent by 111.
Number 8: Some emergencies will need extra help from within the control room such as delivering a baby
In the ambulance control room there is a range of expertise including a pharmacist, critical care paramedic and midwife. When the incident is out of the ordinary like this,they may take over the call and offer advice on further First Aid that can be carried out, for example this could be delivering a baby or dealing with a patient with a neck and spinal injury who is unconscious.
Number 9: Do not call back for an ETA unless they worsen
With such a high volume of calls coming in at once, it is important that you wait for the ambulanceto arrive and only call 999 again if they worsen. Calling to see why the ambulance is taking a long time will only block the 999 number making it hard for other emergencies to get the help they need.
Finally Number 10: Stay calm!
Dealing with any emergency is stressful, butif you can stay calm and give the address and information about your patient slowly and clearly it will help get the ambulance to your patient faster.