Emergency, Or Not?

Imagine one day when you are caught with a bad flu and you are feeling too weak to walk to a clinic or a hospital. You then decide to dial 995 for an emergency ambulance to take you there. 

Shortly after, you are transported to the ambulance from your home and you are on the way to the hospital. Concurrently, somewhere in Singapore, perhaps 10km away from where you are, a man is suffering from a heart-attack and his wife calls 995 for an emergency ambulance but he has got to wait because you took the last one.

Precious minutes wasted with the heart-attack victim laying on the ground. As a result, he died with the background music "25-minutes too late" playing. And of course, your ignorant self is unaware that the death of that poor bloke was indirectly caused by you when you were happily consulting the doctor regarding your flu. Perhaps you may feel a sense of guilt for the rest of your life when the 9.30pm news is on, or maybe not.

Misappropriate use of emergency ambulance could cost lives. So what determines an emergency situation, and what is not? 

The Singapore Civil Defense Force (S.C.D.F.) has come up with a guide to tell you just that. 

When to call for an emergency ambulance service?

The number in Singapore for emergency cases is 995. The only time you should dial that number is when:

• Drowsiness or unconsciousness where the person cannot be roused.

• Difficulty in breathing or chocking.

•  Sudden or severe chest pain.

•  Sudden or severe abdominal pain that will not go away.

•  Dislocated or broken bones.

•  Deep cuts or wounds with profuse bleeding.

• Head injuries that are followed by drowsiness, vomiting, bleeding (from the ears, nose, or mouth) or unusual behaviour.

•  Injuries to chest, abdomen, pelvis or spine (neck and backbone).

•  Fall from heights.

•  Poisoning e.g. inhalation of toxic gases or drug overdose resulting in unconsciousness and respiratory distress.

•  Crushed injuries.

•  Severe allergy.

•  Drowning

•  Burns and scalds - deep with white or charred skin or covering a large area bigger than the size of a hand, or covering the face.

•  Any burns caused by electric shock or lightning.

What to do when you call for 995 for emergency ambulance service?

Once you have identified that the casualty's condition is life-threatening, dial 995 to reach the SCDF Emergency Ambulance Service. Remind yourself to stay calm because your rational actions might just save the casualty's life.

To facilitate a faster response to the casualty, you should do the following:

•  Identify yourself and provide a telephone contact number.

•  Provide the specific location of the casualty.

•  Try to keep details to a minimum; describe the casualty's signs and symptoms briefly e.g. male, Chinese, age 67 years, having severe chest pain since 2 minutes ago, breathless sweating.

•  If you do not know what to say, it will be more helpful for you to listen to the Control Room Operator and answer his questions as best as you can.

•  Do not hang up until the Control Room Operator does so. He may need additional information or directions and may have some instructions for you to follow before the ambulance arrives.

•  Send somebody to wait for the ambulance crew e.g. by holding the lift is necessary, and directing the ambulance crew to the casualty.

•  Standby to assist if required.

Charges by Singapore Civil Defense Emergency Ambulance Service.

There is no charge for any emergency case that the SCDF emergency ambulance conveys to hospitals. However, the SCDF charges $180 for each non-emergency case that it ferries to hospital.

Note: The doctor at the Emergency Department of the receiving hospital will assess and determine the casualty's condition if it is emergency or non-emergency.

What is a non-emergency?

The number in Singapore for non-emergency cases is 1777.

A non-emergency does not end in death or serious complication if it is not treated immediately. These include one of the following: 

• Toothache

• Slight abdominal pain e.g. gastric. 

• Slight fever, coughs and colds.

•  Aches and pains which have been present for a long time.

•  Minor bruises, slight cuts or broken skin.

•  Slight burns or scalds.

•  Mild vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation.

•  Medical check-up or hospital follow-up.

When a case is non-emergency, the SCDF Emergency Ambulance Service should not be used. Instead, medical advice can be sought from a family doctor, or a hospital, using your own transport or the public transport system. Alternatively, dial 1777 for a non-emergency ambulance.

List of non-emergency private ambulance operators and charges.

Click here to view a list of private ambulance operators, their capabilities and basic charges.

Besides the basic charges, prices may vary from case-to-case. For instance, additional costs are imposed for the use of bandages, dressings, diapers, ect. Click here for more details.

Misconceptions on the use of emergency ambulance service.

995 is a free ambulance service?  Yes, the service is free only if it is  a true emergency. However, if a case attended to by the SCDF is deemed to be a non-emergency by its paramedics, the casualty will have to pay an ambulance fee of $180.

You can direct the ambulance to the hospital of your choice? No, the SCDF emergency ambulances will only convey casualties to the nearest designated restructured hospitals so that the casualty can receive immediate medical attention. This will also enable the ambulance to be available earlier for the next emergency call.

Casualty arrived by SCDF emergency ambulance will be given priority in treatment at the A&E Department? No, all casualties arriving at the A&E Department will be assessed by the medical staff at the hospital. Those assessed as critical will be attended first, followed by non-emergency cases.