Making the Right Call – How To Use The Two Most Important Emergency Hotline Numbers in Singapore.

What numbers do you call when you have an emergency? Two of the most familiar emergency hotline numbers in Singapore are 999 and 995. While most people would be able to tell that 999 connects you to the police and 995 puts you in touch with the ambulance service and fire department, the following information will help you to make the right call when the need arises.

So, when do we call 999 or 995?

 

 

We call 999 when there is a crime-related emergency:

• Crime in progress
• You know of a suspect who committed a crime
• You see something or someone suspicious in public areas
• Life and death situations when one’s life is at risk.

 

You can also SMS 71999 and send a text message to the Singapore Police Force when you require emergency assistance; when it is not safe to call ‘999’ or when you are unable to speak.

 

We call 995 when

• There is a Fire
• There are life-threatening cases such as seizures, breathlessness, heart attack, unconsciousness, stroke and major traumas

 

You can also contact emergency services via SMS Police or 70995 if you’re deaf, hearing impaired or have a speech impediment.

When sending an emergency SMS to SCDF, kindly include the following information in your message:

• Which Service is Required (Fire Engine or Ambulance);
• Address/ Incident Location (Be descriptive, include landmarks); and
• Nature of emergency (Fire, someone is trapped in the house, experiencing chest
  pains).

Please note that when you call 995 for medical emergency, the ambulance will take you to the nearest public hospital. Should you wish to go to a hospital of your choice, you can call the Private Ambulance phone number 6473 2222.

If you’re using an international phone with a roaming provider, dial 112 or 911 and your call will be directed to the 999 emergency hotline.

According to the SCDF website, about 10% of all 995 calls each year are for non-emergencies such as toothaches, constipation, cough, and skin rashes. This can result in ambulances reaching emergency cases at a slower rate. For Therefore, please call 995 only when you have a medical emergency.

For non-emergency cases such as toothaches, coughs, diarrhoea and headaches, make your way to the nearest clinic. For those who insist on going to a hospital, you are advised to make your own travel arrangements or call 1777 for a non-emergency ambulance at a fee.

SCDF does not charge for any emergency cases it conveys to hospitals. Please note that $274 will be charged for each non-emergency case that SCDF conveys to hospital.

Other than the private ambulance number Private Ambulance 6473 2222 operated by Network of Parkway East, Gleneagles, Mount Elizabeth Hospitals, there are also other private ambulance services you can consider :

Econ Healthcare

Hotline: 6382 8888

 

Blesswell Ambulance & Medical Services

Hotline: 6273 0147

 

AIC – AME Ambulance Services

Hotline: 6247 7080

 

ER Ambulances & Services

Hotline: 6222 2995

 

Green Crescent Mobile Healthcare

Hotline: 6788 8911

 

Heng Gref International Assists

Hotline: 6272 6018

 

Civic Ambulance Services

Hotline: 6333 3000

 

In order to facilitate a faster response to the patient, the 995 caller should :

1. Identify yourself & provide a contact number.
2. Provide the location, address/postal code, nearest key landmark such as lamp post numbers or bus stop numbers.
3. If you are calling 995 from an open area with no landmarks/buildings etc, you can use myResponder app to contact 995 which will register your location.
4. Describe the patient’s signs and symptoms briefly with the help of a list of guided questions e.g. Female, Malay, 80 years old, fainted, unconscious since 5mins ago, no response, sweating.
5. Stay calm and follow the instructions of the call taker.
6. Do not hang up the telephone unless you are instructed to do so.

Please open the door and if possible, have someone wait at the lift lobby or front of the house to direct the emergency crew members.

In the event you have an urgent medical condition such as broken bones, car accidents or some sudden serious medical issues, these hospitals (both public and private) with Accident and Emergency services will be useful to have :

 

Public Hospitals with A&E (Accident & Emergency Services)

AH – Alexandra Hospital

General Tel: 6472 2000 378 Alexandra Road, Singapore 159964

 

NUH – National University Hospital

Emergency Tel: 6772 5000 Main Tel: 6779 5555 5, Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074

 

NTFGH – Ng Teng Fong General Hospital

Main Tel: 67162000 1 Jurong East St 21, Singapore 609606

 

SGH – Singapore General Hospital

Emergency Tel: 6321 4311 General Tel: 6222 3322 1 Hospital Crescent, Outram Road, Singapore 169608

 

KTPH – Khoo Teck Puat Hospital

Main Tel: 6555 8000 90, Yishun Central, Singapore 768828

 

TTSH – Tan Tock Seng Hospital

Emergency Tel: 63578754 General Tel: 62566011 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore 308433

 

KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital

Children A&E Tel: 6394 1177 General Tel: 6225 5554 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 229899

 

CGH Changi General Hospital

Main Tel: 6788 8833 2 Simei Street 3, Singapore 529889

 

Private Hospitals with A&E (Accident & Emergency Services)

Mount Elizabeth Hospital

A&E Tel: 6731 2218 General Tel: 6737 2666 Ambulance Tel: 6473 2222 3 Mount Elizabeth, Singapore 228510

 

Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital

A&E Tel: 6933 0100 General Tel: 6933 0000 Ambulance Tel: 6473 2222 38, Irrawaddy Road, Singapore 329563

 

Parkway East Hospital

A&E Tel: 6340 8666 General Tel: 6344 7588 Ambulance Tel: 6473 2222 321 Joo Chiat Place, Singapore 427990

 

Gleneagles Hospital

A&E Tel: 6470 5700 General Tel: 6473 7222 Ambulance: 6473 2222 6A Napier Road, Singapore 258500

 

Thomson Medical Centre

24 Hours Clinic Tel: 6350 8812 Phone: 6250 2222 339 Thomson Road, Singapore 307677

 

Raffles Hospital

A&E Tel: 6311 1555 Phone: 6311 1111 585 North Bridge Road, Singapore 188770

 

Mount Alvernia Hospital

24 Hrs Tel: 6347 6688 General Tel: 6347 688 820 Thomson Road, Singapore 574623

 

Wow! That’s a lot of numbers to remember. Below is a quick summary of the key numbers of the various numbers during an emergency. Do remember to print out and keep a copy near your phone.