In case of emergency: Who to call and what to say

Zain Johnson (in for Clarence Ford on CapeTalk) speaks with Primedia's Digital Content Editor Barbara Friedman about this and other stories trending online.

Listen below:

In an emergency, whether it is a crime in progress, medical emergency, or weather-related disaster, you need to know what to do.

Every South Africa should be familiar with our emergency numbers.

The primary national emergency numbers are 10111 (police) and 112 (cell phone emergency number).

For ambulance and fire brigade assistance, you can also call 10177.

These numbers should be displayed prominently in your home, saved in your phones and taught to children.

If any member of your household has a serious medical condition, these details should also be prominently displayed somewhere.

“In a panic you do not always remember.”

- Barbara Friedman, Digital Content Editor 

Once you are connected to emergency services, you must follow these steps:

1 – Immediately give the operator your contact number in case the call gets disconnected, so they can call you back.

2 – Always give your full name.

3 – Describe your location as accurately as you can with as much necessary detail as possible.

4 – Give details of your emergency while allowing the operator to guide the conversation. They will know the important questions to ask.

5 – In medical calls share any pre-existing conditions of the patient, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

6 – Stay on the line for as long as you are able to, as this will help the operator identify helpful information.

The operator will then direct your call, along with the information they collected, to the relevant police, fire or ambulance service.

Scroll up to the audio player for more.