WHO TO CALL

  • For any medical emergency, call Triple Zero (000)
    • If not an emergency:
      • Contact and make an appointment with your local GP
      • Call Nurse on Call 1300 60 60 24
      • Contact a relative
  • For people with a hearing or speech impairment, call 106 (National Relay Service)
    • If you are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment, you must register with the National Relay Service
    • The National Relay Service is an Australian-wide telephone service for people with hearing or speech difficulties whereby specialised staff, Relay Officers, will be able to convert the phone call to the required mode of communication for the person (voice-to-text, text-to-voice, AUSLAN-to-English, English-to-AUSLAN)
    • There are three different options to call for an ambulance:
      • Voice Relay Number 1300 555 727
      • TTY Number 133 677
        • Any person who is deaf or has a hearing / speech impairment qualifies for either a free or discounted teletypewriter (TTY), a communications device
      • SMS Relay Number 0423 677 767

https://www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/phone/services-people-disability/accesshub/national-relay-service

https://www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/phone/services-people-disability/accesshub

  • For people with limited English language skills, there are interpreters available
    • Call Triple Zero (000)
    • Say the word “ambulance”
    • State the language you speak in English

WHEN TO CALL

  • The term medical emergency refers to an acute illness or injury to a person that immediately risks their life or long-term health
  • In any situation, either the person themselves or bystanders will have to make a subjective decision about whether the current situation is deemed a medical emergency
  • Examples of medical emergencies include:
    • Anaphylactic reactions
    • Severe bleeding
    • Difficulty breathing (e.g. asthma, COPD, pneumonia)
      • Elevated respiratory rate (> 16 breaths per minute)
    • Suspected heart attack
      • Suspect if:
        • Severe chest pain radiating to the left jaw/ shoulder/arm
        • Associated nausea, vomiting, sweatiness
        • Racing or fluttering heartbeat
        • Shortness of breath / elevated respiratory rate
      • Known cardiovascular risk factors (older age, male, obesity, smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol, positive family history, diabetes, previous heart attack)
    • Suspected stroke
      • Suspect if:
        • Sudden loss of consciousness
        • Muscle weakness/ paralysis
        • Unstable / unsteady gait
        • Tingling / burning / numbing sensation in limbs or face
        • Facial droop
        • Slurred speech / inability to speak
        • Change in vision (double vision / blurred vision / loss of vision)
        • Urinary incontinence
        • Impaired cognition / personality changes / agitation / strange behaviour
      • Risk factors for stroke:
        • Older age, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, high cholesterol, positive family history, previous stroke, contraceptive use, atrial fibrillation, sleep apnoea
      • Hypoglycaemic event (hypoglycaemia defined as BSL < 4.0mmol/L)
        • Most commonly occurs in diabetic patients but can occur in non-diabetic individuals
          • Risk factors for hypoglycaemia:
            • Exercise
            • Missed meal / fasting / low-carbohydrate intake
            • Alcohol ingestion
            • Chronic kidney disease
            • Malnutrition
          • Risk factors for specifically diabetic patients:
            • Longer duration of diabetes
            • Incorrect insulin dosing
            • History of recent hypoglycaemic event
            • Certain medications (sulfonylureas)
          • Suspect if:
            • Confusion /impaired conscious state/ delirium
            • Drowsiness / fatigue
            • Muscle weakness
            • Seizure (when severe)
          • Severe stomach pain
          • Drug/ Medication overdose
          • Road / vehicle accidents
          • Electric shock / burns / industrial accidents
          • Explosions / bombs
          • Trauma
          • Psychotic episode
          • Self-harm / suicidal ideations
          • Domestic violence