How do 999 calls work

Calls fit into the following categories which determine the speed and type of response:. What can you do before help arrives? After calling , you can help us by doing the following: Stay with the patient until the ambulance crew arrives and call back if their condition or location changes.

If it is dark, turn on house lights and pull back curtains. Lock away family pets. If possible, collect any medication being taken by the patient. Stay calm — our staff are there to help. Violent or threatening behaviour will not be tolerated and could delay help getting to the patient. The most obvious problem is not always the most serious. Check for broken bones and other injuries afterwards. If a person is unconscious but is breathing and has no other life-threatening conditions, they should be placed in the recovery position.

If a person is not breathing normally after an accident, call an ambulance and start CPR straight away if you can. Page last reviewed: 29 August Next review due: 29 August When to call Knowing what to do next and who to call can potentially save lives. Life-threatening emergencies Call in a medical emergency. Medical emergencies can include: loss of consciousness an acute confused state fits that are not stopping chest pain breathing difficulties severe bleeding that cannot be stopped severe allergic reactions severe burns or scalds Call immediately if you or someone else is having a heart attack or stroke.

Find out more about major trauma services Information: If you're not sure what to do NHS can help if you need urgent medical help or you're not sure what to do. They will ask questions about your symptoms so you get the help you need. You can get help from It's available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Category 1 7 minutes — Life-threatening injuries and illnesses. In the majority of cases the patient will go to hospital, usually the nearest emergency department ED but sometimes there will be the need to bypass the nearest ED to take them to a specialist unit for the best care.

In others cases patients may receive advice over the telephone or referred to another service such as a GP or pharmacist. You might also receive instructions about how to give first aid until the ambulance arrives. Read our article about giving emergency first aid while waiting for the ambulance to arrive here. If the patient needs further treatment, they will alert the hospital so they can prepare for their arrival.

Having handed over the patient to the hospital, the ambulance crew prepare themselves and their vehicle for their next call out. We strongly recommend that you complete an online or attend a practical or online first aid course to understand what to do in a medical emergency.

Click here or call for more information about our courses. First Aid for Life provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice.

First Aid for Life is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made or actions taken based on this information. Thank you for your message. Your local ambulance station or the ambulance control centre should be able to help with this. So glad Denise has is recovering. Best wishes Emma. Assuming all those details are true then you should really take it off the Internet!!!!! Following a 5ft fall down outdoor concrete steps hitting my right leg on the way I waited 24 hours for an ambulance in Jan.

Paramedics apologised saying they hhad been told somebody had tripped in the garden by the emergency handler. Injuries were a straight fibula fracture and tibial platea onstable fracture both to right leg. The trip was recorded though it was very clearly reported what had happened by my husband at the time and every four hours after. It was impossible for him to move me himself. We called ambulance today for a suspected stroke case and it took approximately 1 hour for the operator to answer??

Why this is not good enough for a category 2. Your email address will not be published. I accept the Privacy Policy. Never miss out on vital updates — sign up here for our weekly newsletter.

Facebook Twitter Instagram. What happens when you dial from making the call to when help arrives by Emma Hammett Jan 21, Schools , Uncategorized 6 comments. Call or — the emergency service number for the UK and the rest of Europe. When you call , a BT operator answers your call and asks — Emergency, which service do you require? Fire, Police or Ambulance? When the medical responders are on their way the emergency medical dispatcher can update them with further critical information, so they are ready for action as soon as they reach the scene.

The Control Assistant will ask: What is the telephone number you are calling from? What is the exact location of the incident? You will also be asked for information relating to the type of incident: What has happened? How many people are involved? Is the person conscious or unconscious, breathing or not breathing? What part of the body was injured? Is there any serious bleeding? Is anyone trapped in the vehicle? Nationally Agreed Categories Each call is prioritised into nationally agreed categories, so that life-threatening calls made to the ambulance service are dealt with first.

Each category has a target response time. What can you do before help arrives? First aid whilst waiting for the ambulance You might also receive instructions about how to give first aid until the ambulance arrives. Mark Green on July 8, at pm. Emma Hammett on July 9, at am.

Best wishes Emma Reply. Guardian Angel on January 26, at pm. Angela Scaife on November 3, at am. Victoria Hobson on January 20, at pm. Why this is not good enough for a category 2 Reply. Submit a Comment Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. First Aid for Life featured on Sky News.

Search our site and blog Search for:. Award Winning. Voted number one Feedspot best blogs Never miss out on vital updates — sign up here for our weekly newsletter. First Aid for Life. Basia Klimas 18 Oct I attended a 3 hour emergency First Aid course extremely well delivered by Jenny. She covered so many topics and She was also able to stimulate and answer several questions from the group around and on a tangent to the topic.

I feel much more confident now. Paula Hamilton 04 Oct Excellent course. Very easy to navigate and full of invaluable information and skills that everyone should have.