Paramedics are highly trained health professionals who provide advanced medical care in a pre-hospital setting. Their role involves assessing injuries, administering emergency treatment, and transporting patients safely. Understanding the appropriate steps for contacting Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is essential for ensuring timely and effective help arrives during a crisis.
Recognizing a True Medical Emergency
Call emergency services immediately when a condition is life-threatening or could worsen rapidly without advanced medical intervention. Driving to a hospital is not advisable if the patient requires the skills, medication, or equipment paramedics carry. Paramedics can begin stabilizing the patient and communicating with the receiving hospital en route, saving precious time.
Symptoms requiring an ambulance include severe difficulty breathing, chest pain or pressure lasting two minutes or more, sudden loss of consciousness, or uncontrolled bleeding. Signs of a stroke, such as sudden numbness, weakness, or difficulty speaking, also warrant an immediate call. For children, significant difficulty breathing or a high fever in an infant under three months should prompt an immediate call. When in doubt, always call the emergency number; the dispatcher is trained to determine if assistance is needed.
The Immediate Calling Procedure
Dial your local emergency number immediately, which connects you to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). Remain as calm as possible; speaking clearly allows the dispatcher to understand the situation and location without delay. Frantic callers may slow response time by making it difficult for the dispatcher to gather necessary information.
The dispatcher begins sending help once the location and nature of the emergency are established, often dispatching first responders while continuing to ask questions for details. Stay on the line and answer every question, even if you hear sirens approaching. Never hang up until the dispatcher explicitly instructs you to, as they may need to update information or provide life-saving instructions.
Critical Information for the Dispatcher
The dispatcher will ask questions to quickly assess the situation and allocate resources. The three most important pieces of information are the exact location, the nature of the emergency, and the patient’s status. Provide the precise street address, including cross streets, apartment numbers, or visible landmarks, to help responders find the scene quickly.
State clearly what happened, such as a fall, a car crash, or a medical event like a heart attack. When describing the patient’s status, provide their approximate age, whether they are conscious, and if they are breathing. The dispatcher uses this information to determine the level of care required and may ask follow-up questions about symptoms or medical history. Answering these questions concisely ensures the arriving team is fully prepared.
Actions While Awaiting Help
Follow any pre-arrival instructions the dispatcher provides, such as guidance on performing hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or applying direct pressure to a wound. These instructions use an approved protocol system and can significantly improve the patient’s outcome. If the patient is unconscious but breathing, position them in the recovery position to protect their airway.
Prepare the environment for the paramedics’ arrival by:
- Clearing a path to the patient.
- Securing any pets in a separate room.
- Turning on outside lights if it is dark to help responders locate the address quickly.
- Gathering important patient information, including a list of current medications, known allergies, and medical history, which aids immediate treatment and transport.