How to call an ambulance

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Dial triple zero (000) and ask for ambulance.

The ambulance operator will want to know:

• The exact address of the emergency
• Nearest cross streets or landmarks
• The phone number you are calling from
• That the person is having a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
• How old the person having anaphylaxis is
• If the person is conscious (awake), if they are breathing
• Medications which have been given (e.g. adrenaline injector, antihistamine, asthma puffer)

Remember to try to keep calm and speak slowly and clearly. Listen to the ambulance operator and answer their questions.

Stay on the phone and don’t hang up until the operator tells you to.

If you are the person having anaphylaxis and are alone – call triple zero (000) even if you are having difficulty talking.

Emergency services may be able to find your location (where you are) if you are calling from a landline or mobile.

Your phone company is required by law to provide your address to a secure database which is used for responding to emergency situations. Advanced Mobile Location (AML) technology is able to find a person within 5 metres of where they are if the mobile phone they call triple zero (000) on is operating with Android version 4.1 or higher, or Apple iOS version 14.3 or higher. Another option is to use the Emergency Plus app which gives your GPS location when you call triple zero (000) through the app (download from the Google or Apple app store).

In an emergency – do not call Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia for advice.

Follow advice on your ASCIA Action Plan.

If you do not have an ASCIA Action Plan or an adrenaline injector follow the advice on our page for emergency treatment of an allergic reaction and call triple zero (000).

Our 1300 728 000 phone line is NOT an emergency line. Calling Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia during an emergency wastes precious time.

Calling triple zero (000) means an ambulance will get to you as soon as possible.

If you are worried about the possibility of having to give an adrenaline injector in the future, please talk with your doctor or call Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia’s allergy educators before an allergic reaction happens.

Once the ambulance arrives

• The paramedics will take the person’s blood pressure, check their breathing and ask what happened. They will give the person adrenaline before they get to hospital if needed.
• The person having anaphylaxis should be taken to the nearest emergency department by ambulance for further treatment and observation.
• It is important that the person does not stand or walk to the ambulance even if they think they can or paramedics ask them to. They should be kept in a lying position or if breathing is difficult, sitting on stretcher with legs outstretched in front of them (see Care you should expect if you experience anaphylaxis).
• Once the person is at the hospital they need to stay there for at least four hours observation and possible further treatment. They must stay for four hours after the last dose of adrenaline even if they look and feel well. After anaphylaxis, people can suddenly become unwell again so observation in a medical setting is important.

What to do if there is limited or no access to an ambulance

• Sometimes, especially in some rural and remote areas, an ambulance may not be available.
• The person taking your triple zero (000) call will advise you whether to take the person to hospital or medical care yourself or stay at home and manage the anaphylaxis until the ambulance arrives. Ask the phone operator what to do.
• If the triple zero phone operator tells you to transport the person who is having anaphylaxis to hospital in your car, where possible, do not allow the person to stand up or walk as this can suddenly lower their blood pressure and make their symptoms worse. If it is possible for the person having anaphylaxis to be carried to the car keeping them flat, this is the best option.
• Place the person having anaphylaxis in the car as close to the positioning recommended on the ASCIA Action Plan as possible. For safety and legal reasons, the person having anaphylaxis needs to be seated in a vehicle so that they can wear a seatbelt.   Ask the triple zero operator about how best to manage positioning if you need to get a person to hospital without an ambulance.
• Two people should ideally travel with the person having anaphylaxis, one to drive and the other to care for the person having anaphylaxis.
• Take adrenaline injectors with you if available.

If you are in an area where an ambulance may not be available, be prepared:

• Always carry two prescribed adrenaline injectors with you everywhere. If you have more than two injectors, you should have them with you.
• Always carry your ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis with your adrenaline injectors. This will help guide you on when and how to use your adrenaline injector.
• Discuss a plan in case an ambulance is not available. Do this before you are in an emergency situation. You may wish to talk with your GP about your plan. Think about:
  • What cars, vans, trucks are available
  • Who can drive
  • Can someone come with you to look after the person having anaphylaxis while you drive
• Find out where the nearest hospital or medical service is if you do not know the area.
• Who can look after others in your care such as children.