SCDF: Public may face delayed ambulance response if 995 calls keep rising, dial 995 for urgent cases only, receives about 760 calls a day

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) is urging the public to refrain from calling the 995 emergency hotline unless for urgent matters, as the agency receives about 760 calls daily.

If Emergency Medical Services (EMS) calls continue to climb, the public may experience delays in ambulance response, particularly for less critical medical incidents, said SCDF.

The average number of EMS calls before the Covid-19 pandemic was about 550. This increased to about 760 calls a day on average in the first week of July, with the highest being 810, said SCDF in a Facebook post on July 8.

SCDF is monitoring the situation closely and has put in place measures to manage the increase in EMS calls.

It will optimise and adjust the deployment of ambulances to areas with a high rate of medical emergency calls and prioritise response to critical life-threatening medical emergencies.

“Patients assessed by SCDF paramedics to have non-emergency medical conditions will not be conveyed to the hospital,” said SCDF.

Members of the public are urged to refrain from calling 995 if they are not suffering any life-threatening or emergency medical conditions.

“By doing so, SCDF can continue to provide swift conveyance to those who require our emergency medical conditions.” /TISG

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