Emergency Evacuation Procedure

BASICS IS THE KEY TO START AN AMBULANCE

Most of you reading this have heard the expression "...it all boils down to the basics..." and more than often this is very true.

When an emergency call is placed at the ER24 Contact Centre we require the basics to set the process in motion to render realhelprealfast. It is often heard in the media than an ambulance took over 40 minutes to respond to an emergency.

Callers making an emergency call to any emergency centre tend to be stressed and sometimes even unsure of their current location. In order for an ambulance to be dispatched to your location, the call taker needs the basics of the emergency to activate it. Some callers tend to rush through the process and immediately stress the fact that "...the person is dying...", "...there are five people injured..." Although this might seem basic, the ambulance still does not know where to respond to.

Basic steps to ensure that adequate details are relayed to the ambulance personnel and minimize response times are essential.

• Dial 084 124 in case of a Medical Emergency.
• Always speak calmly and clearly.
• Follow the prompts of the call taker. Although this may seem endless, the moment the call taker has the basic information an emergency vehicle is dispatched to your location whilst you are on the phone.

Basic information that can determine an excellent or disastrous response is as follows:

• Actual Street name where the patient is. (With a house number, if applicable)
• Cross Street closest to the patient or emergency.
• The Suburb is essential.
• Any major well known landmark clearly visible and walking distance from the patient or emergency.
• Any hazardous surroundings, i.e. shooting, fire, etc.

In any emergency, the prompts by the call taker should be followed to ensure that all the details are captured correctly.

The ER24 Contact Centre uses state of the art technology that enables the call taker to dispatch an ambulance to your location whilst he/she is taking down further details.

Remember ten minutes may feel like a lifetime in an emergency. Should you require any further information, please visit our website on www.er24.co.za or email us on info@er24.co.za

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