Emergency Response Guidelines for Calling 999/112 in Ireland

This presentation has been created on behalf of the Chief Fire Officers Association by Tipperary Fire & Rescue Service

Learning Objectives Introduction to 999 /112 Know when to/ when not to call 999/112 Making that important Call Practice making an Emergency Call What happens next

999 /112 999 or 112 are the official emergency telephone numbers in Ireland, which allow the caller to contact emergency services for urgent assistance. 112 is a European emergency contact no. and was introduced in Ireland in 1998 to run parallel with 999

Which number do I use? 999 and 112 do the same thing, connect you to the emergency services. Neither number has priority over the other, and neither number provides a faster service over the other. In Ireland they are the same.

Calling 999/112

Calling 999 /112 when hard of hearing Simply text 999 or 112 with Emergency details, the call handler will text back to gain more information.eg Emergency service required, location of the emergency The operator will then ring the Emergency Service on your behalf relaying the information you have given them A hearing impaired person can pre register their mobile telephone no. on 112.ie linking their phone to their home address

When to ring the Emergency Services Medical Emergency You have been involved or witness a serious road traffic accident Fire/ Explosion Rescue required e.g. mountain rescue, drowning Require urgent emergency assistance from An Gardai, the Ambulance or the Fire Services Genuine Emergency- it is a criminal office to make a hoax call to the emergency services Remember 999/112 can be dialled from a mobile phone without credit or even the use of the handset password

When to consider other options Non Life-Treating Emergency Require Breakdown Assistance Minor Injuries Locked out of your home/car Animal rescue- cat up a tree! Barking dogs Burst pipes

Which Service do you require?? AMBULANCE ??? Fire Service ??? Gardai??? Coast Guard ????

Which Service do you require

Know your Location Tell the Operator the exact location of the emergency (knowing the Eircode/Postcode is very helpful) If you don t know where you are try to describe any landmarks around you or try to ask someone If you are on a road try to remember the last road marker you passed. What direction you are travelling in, if unsure what was the last town/village you went through . where are you going to? What was the last junction you passed? Ask someone to check their My Location on their phone and pass this information onto the operator

Describing an Emergency What type of an emergency??? E.g.. House Fire/ Road Traffic Collision / Medical emergency...... Is there anyone trapped or injured If so how many/where are they/what type of injury If its a fire, where is the fire...e.g. in the kitchen, to the back of the house If its a Road Traffic Collision how many vehicles are involved Medical Emergency- try to give as much detail as possible, how did the injury occur, what is their current condition...

Calling 999/112 Try to remain calm and speak clearly You will be asked: What service do you require?? Your name and phone number The address/location of the emergency

Calling 999/112 What is your emergency- what is happening Are there reports of anyone trapped or injured The operator may they ask you questions to gain more information to help the emergency crews Do you require any other emergency services

Remember do NOT hang up the phone...Stay on the line until the operator tells you otherwise

Please take a minutes to watch a 999/112 call in progress https://lms.bfiresafeatschool.eu/home#group-5

Role Play Now its your turn

Role Play Scenario 1: You are at home upstairs, when the smoke alarm goes off in the kitchen..it seems to be a stove fire, smoke is beginning to fill the room. Your younger sister is getting upset...what do you do ?? Scenario 2: You have come across a road traffic accident somewhere between Tipperary town and Limerick City. Two cars have hit each other ..you can hear someone shouting for help.....what do you do ?? Scenario 3: You are at a football match in your local Sports Ground when the referee falls to the ground holding his chest...what do you do??

Role Play Typical Emergency Operator Questions Which Service do you Require? What is your Emergency? What is your address/location? What is your name and number? Any further details ?? Is anyone injured/trapped. Where is the fire located? Is he/she breathing?? Can you start CPR (Chest compressions) Remember in the case of a medical emergency the operator may often ask the caller to follow basic first aid instructions while they are waiting for an ambulance

What is going on in the background The first question, Which service do you require allows the call handler to put you through to the correct Emergency Service Once through your location will be determined and the operator, while still on the phone to the caller will dispatch the appropriate crews Any additional information will be passed onto the crew en-route to the emergency the operator will only ask you to hang up the phone when they have as much information as they need or the emergency services are in attendance. Do NOT hang up until you have been instructed to do so.

Overview It may take close to 8 mins before the Emergency It may take close to 8 mins before the Emergency Services arrive at your location Services arrive at your location 2 seconds 15 seconds 7 min aprox Additional Services if requested e.g. County Council, ESB ... Additional Fire Crews if required Fire Local Fire Crews Ambulance Other Emergency Services Dispatch Crews in a similar way to Fire Call 999/112 ECAS Gardai Coast Guard

Learning Outcomes You should now be able to determine when to/not to call 999/112 Know which Emergency Service you require Have confidence in your ability to Call 999/112 Give details about your location Describe the Emergency