Wang Yuanyuan
ONLY about 10 percent of telephone calls to the city s Emergency Medical Service Center in Futian District were calls for emergency help, according to the center.
The center received an average of about 1,000 calls a day last year, but most were from children calling for fun or callers canceling earlier calls, Zhang Fulin, director of the center, said at a first-aid training promotion in Lianhuayicun housing estate in Futian District.
Many people, particularly children, call 120 for fun. We get a lot of calls like that, particularly during holidays. Some people don t know much about 120, so they call to complain or for medical reasons, Zhang said.
Ambulances could be sent in one minute after receiving a call, but most take half an hour or even an hour to arrive. This is because most people do not tell the ambulance where to go, so drivers waste a lot of time trying to find them, Zhang said.
According to the center, when calling 120 for help, the caller should remain calm and speak in clear voice. The exact location is particularly important. Normally, residents say where they are, but it is better to tell the ambulance the street and give directions. The more detail the better, he said.
The caller also had to say the number of patients and their symptoms so that hospitals could arrange situable medical staff for first aid. Callers should hang up only after the center has hung up.
Many people leave the scene after making a call, which is not good for ambulance and medical staff. We need them to stay where they are so the ambulance can contact them if they cannot find the way, Wang said.
