WHEN TO CALL AN AMBULANCE

Written by Neill Abayon

1. If you are alone, breathing is absent, and the victim is an adult, call for an ambulance and/or for access to a defebrillator as soon as you realise the victim is not breathing. The cause is most likely to be a heart attack leading to cardiac arrest, and the most effective treatment is CPR and very early access to defibrillation.

2. If you are alone and the victim is an infant or a child under 8 years of age, provide 1 minute of rescue breathing or full CPR before calling for an ambulance. The cause is most likely to be a problem with breathing, such as choking or drowning, etc., and the most effective treatment is to get oxygen into the lungs.

3. If you are not alone, send a bystander for the ambulance as soon as you have confirmed that the victim is not breathing.

CALLING FOR AMBULANCE

* Dial 911

* Ask for the ambulance service.

* Listen to the operator - you will be acted for your name, contact details, and where you are.

* he operator will ask a series of questions about the victim and what has happened - give as much information as you can,

* Often the operator will give you advice on what to do next.

* Do not hang up the phone until you are told to do so.


SOURCES OF MEDICAL HELP

There is a variety of sources of medical assistance throughout the country. Investigate what is an available locally before an emergency happens, and keep a list of useful numbers by the phone or stored in your cellular phone.

* Ambulance
* Hospital, Emergency Department
* Doctor's Office
* Urgent case clinics
* Pharmacies