When Requesting Assistance from First Responders (Please provide the following):
- Your name and contact number (or the contact person on scene)
- Exact location of the incident and the exact time it occurred
- Type of emergency: accident / fire / medical / other
- Number of people involved (note any minors or vulnerable persons)
- Immediate dangers present: e.g., fire, smoke, gas, live wires, weapons, traffic, flooding
- Current condition of those needing help: conscious/unconscious, breathing/not breathing, bleeding, trapped, injured
- Stay available and follow instructions until responders arrive and on arrival
Providing this information upfront is incredibly useful because it helps first responders dispatch the right resources fast (ambulance, fire, police), find you without delays, and prepare for the risks on arrival (like fire, hazardous smoke, live wires, traffic, or violence). It also lets them prioritise the most vulnerable and seriously injured immediately, start giving you life-saving instructions over the phone, and reduces confusion on scene—saving minutes that can literally save lives.