Accident? Here's What to Do – Call the Ambulance Service!

Seeing an accident can be a moment of sudden panic and confusion. Whether it’s a vehicle collision on a busy Karachi Street, a fall in a rural village, or an unexpected medical emergency, your actions in those first few moments are critical. Here in Sindh, Pakistan, knowing what to do can truly make a difference in saving a life. And remember, the ambulance service is your immediate and most vital connection to professional help.

As Sindh Integrated Emergency & Health Services (SIEHS), we believe in empowering our community. This guide will walk you through essential steps to take when you encounter an accident, highlighting the crucial role our ambulance service plays in providing urgent medical care.

Step 1: Your Safety Comes First – Always!

Before you even think about helping others, your top priority must be your own safety. You cannot assist if you become another victim.

• Assess for Danger: Look around the scene for immediate threats. Are there still moving vehicles, fire, smoke, spilled fuel, or broken electrical wires? Is the area stable? If it looks unsafe, keep a safe distance.
• Secure Your Vehicle (If Driving): If you’re in a car and see an accident, pull over safely, away from the scene. Turn on your hazard lights. If you have safety triangles, and it’s safe to place them, do so to warn other drivers.

Step 2: Call for Immediate Professional Help – Dial 1122!

Once you’re safe, your very next action is to call for emergency services. In Sindh, for any medical emergency or accident, immediately dial 1122. This is your direct line to the SIEHS ambulance service, operating 24/7 across all 30 districts of Sindh.

• Be Clear and Calm: When the 1122 operator answers, try to stay calm. They are ready to help. Be prepared to tell them:
  • Exact Location: Give the precise street name, nearest landmark (like a famous shop or mosque), and the city/district (e.g., “Main Shahrah-e-Faisal near XYZ Building, Karachi”).
  • Type of Accident: Briefly describe what happened (e.g., “car crash,” “person fell”).
  • Number of People: Estimate how many people seem to be hurt.
  • Severity of Injuries: Briefly describe what you see (e.g., “unconscious person,” “heavy bleeding”).
  • Any Dangers: Mention if there’s fire, smoke, or other immediate risks.
• Stay on the Line: Do not hang up until the operator tells you to. They might give you important instructions or ask for more details. This free call connects you directly to our life-saving ambulance service.

Step 3: Offer Simple Assistance (If Safe and You Know How)

While our highly trained ambulance service team is on its way, you can offer basic help, but only if it’s absolutely safe and you have some basic first aid knowledge.

• Do NOT Move Injured People: Unless there’s immediate danger (like fire), do not move someone who is injured. Moving them incorrectly can make serious injuries, especially to the spine, much worse.
• Check for Awareness and Breathing: If it’s safe to get close, gently try to get a response from the injured person. If they are unconscious, quickly check if they are breathing normally.
• Control Severe Bleeding: If you see a lot of blood, and you have something clean (like a cloth or a glove), press firmly on the wound to help stop the bleeding.
• Offer Reassurance: Speak calmly to the injured person. Tell them who you are, that help is on its way (mentioning SIEHS and the 1122 ambulance service), and try to keep them calm and comfortable.
• No Food or Drink: Never give an injured person anything to eat or drink. They might need surgery, and food or water could cause complications.

Step 4: Observe, Cooperate, and Let Professionals Take Over

Once the SIEHS ambulance service arrives, they are the trained experts.

• Give Them Space: As the ambulance and paramedics get there, step back. Allow them plenty of room to work safely and quickly.
• Provide Information: If asked, calmly tell the emergency responders what you saw or what actions you took. Your observations can be very helpful for their assessment.
• Do Not Interfere: Do not get too close or try to tell them what to do. Let the professional paramedics from the ambulance service do their job.

The SIEHS Ambulance Service: Your Lifeline in Sindh

Our SIEHS ambulance service is far more than just a transport system. It’s a critical extension of advanced medical care, brought directly to you. Our modern ambulances are equipped with essential medical tools and medicines. Most importantly, our paramedics are highly trained. They can provide immediate emergency medical treatment, stabilize patients, and manage critical conditions right at the scene, even before reaching a hospital. They are your first line of defense in an emergency, ensuring timely, professional, and free emergency care for everyone in Sindh.

Your Role is Simple, Yet Powerful

Knowing these simple steps when you see an accident is a vital skill for everyone in Sindh. By focusing on your safety, making that urgent call to 1122 for the SIEHS ambulance service, and offering basic assistance when safe, you play a crucial part in our community’s well-being. Your quick thinking can truly empower our ambulance service to save more lives and bring comfort in moments of crisis. Keep 1122 saved in your phone – it’s the number that brings help, fast, anywhere in Sindh.