Hi..Can a foreigner call for an ambulance in Chiang Mai…??

[mikey88]

Hi…just planning ahead to help an elderly friend. They live alone. If there’s a serious problem….can he call an ambulance and reasonably expect it to turn up. ..?  And how to do this….?  And if there’s a charge that’s no problem….

He is in Mae Rim….

Thanks for the help…

[Pouatchee]

would likely have to call tourist police first...sorry dont know the 911 here in thailand-- and have them help. i seriously doubt they would understand a foreigner giving directions. the one and only time i called any emergency service here no one spoke a lick of english

[lopburi3]

Most hospitals have such a service and expect if being treated for anything that would be the best option.  I can't advise on emergency services and expect could be an issue if Thai limited.

[Georgealbert]

This may help
 

https://chiangmaifamilyguide.com/emergency-contacts-in-chiang-mai/

[Prubangboy]

Yes. My wife passed out in a restaurant. The ambulance was there in 7 minutes (Old City). There was no charge.

[arithai12]

I use mostly Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai, and yes of course you can call their ambulance 1719. Very good English too. I don't know what they charge. I expect many other, if not all, hospitals have the same.

[ballpoint]

The medical emergency number for Thailand is 1669, unless your friend wants to be taken to a specific hospital, in which case you should look up the hospital's emergency number and store it in their phone for them before it is needed.  If your friend does call a hospital in Chiang Mai city though, they will likely have to wait for the ambulance to come from there, rather than getting a local one.  In my experience, calling 1669 will ensure the nearest ambulance is dispatched, but it will take them to a public hospital - which I don't really have a problem with in an emergency, but some may.

 

 

[Lacessit]

Tell your friend he should not live alone, he can hire a carer to live with him for 10k - 15k baht/month.

[JoseThailand]

9 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Tell your friend he should not live alone, he can hire a carer to live with him for 10k - 15k baht/month.

 

From a nearby bar

[Lacessit]

5 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

 

From a nearby bar

Nurses in government hospitals are compulsorily retired at age 45.

[MrBrad]

It might help to meet with the emergency department at your chosen hospital and more-or-less register your information in their computer.  Give them your home address; they'll find it on Google Maps, take a few screenshots and file it under your name.  I'm not saying that this is a foolproof solution to getting an ambulance to your home if needed, but it couldn't hurt.  I did this at Chiang Mai's Bangkok Hospital, by the way.

[BritManToo]

Best to call GRAB and get to the hospital of choice .......

NakornPing half way on the road to CM, or SanSai on the road to MaeJo are your nearest hospital choices.

 

[CMBob]

There's an app called "Police i lert u".....which points out your location and gives you the option of calling the cops or an ambulance.  I downloaded it but haven't used it (just thought it might come in handy if I witnessed an accident or whatever).  Have no clue how well it does or doesn't work.

 

[newbee2022]

17 hours ago, mikey88 said:

Hi…just planning ahead to help an elderly friend. They live alone. If there’s a serious problem….can he call an ambulance and reasonably expect it to turn up. ..?  And how to do this….?  And if there’s a charge that’s no problem….

He is in Mae Rim….

Thanks for the help…

The best is by phone I 🤔

[Wrwest]

17 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

would likely have to call tourist police first...sorry dont know the 911 here in thailand-- and have them help. i seriously doubt they would understand a foreigner giving directions. the one and only time i called any emergency service here no one spoke a lick of english

 

18 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

The best is by phone I 🤔

Agree, calling 1669 for ambulance might not get the desired English or other language. Best bet dial 1155 for Tourist Police. But in either case being able to give directions or immediately sending GPS coordinates is critical for emergency care.

[FolkGuitar]

When I needed an ambulance at 3am, my wife (non-Thai, speaks very little,) just called the nearest hospital and it arrived less than 10 minutes later. No problems. Cost ฿1,200.

[tandor]

17 hours ago, mikey88 said:

Hi…just planning ahead to help an elderly friend. They live alone. If there’s a serious problem….can he call an ambulance and reasonably expect it to turn up. ..?  And how to do this….?  And if there’s a charge that’s no problem….

He is in Mae Rim….

Thanks for the help…

1661

[TheFishman1]

I want she’s Chang Mai Ram hospital I’ll speak good English there and there’s no problem.

[Zack61]

16 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Nurses in government hospitals are compulsorily retired at age 45.

I know quite a few over 50. 

[newbee2022]

25 minutes ago, Wrwest said:

 

Agree, calling 1669 for ambulance might not get the desired English or other language. Best bet dial 1155 for Tourist Police. But in either case being able to give directions or immediately sending GPS coordinates is critical for emergency care.

Many phones got an emergency button, providing GPS position. 

[crazykopite]

In one word yes however you will most likely be billed  I had to do it for a friend last year who sadly passed away but they wouldn’t release his body until the hospital bills were paid in full

[Sheryl]

Of course he or anyone else, of any nationality, can call an ambulance anywhere in Thailand.

 

But for those who do not speak Thai well (or at all) communicating may be an issue. The caller will need to be able to give clear information about where they are located (do NOT count on the ambulance call center being able to track your phone's location by GPS...most do not have that capacity).

 

And remember that under conditions of stress, speaking a foreign language can become more difficult.

 

There are 2 main ways to summon an ambulance:

 

The general medical emergency number 1669. This can result in having little to no choice on what hospital one is taken to, and usually little to no English is spoken. Also usually nto much, if anything, in the way of on the scene first aid.

 

The emergency line of a specific hospital. This, obviously, gets one taken to that hospital. In the case of private hospitals, especially Bangkok Hospital and maybe Ram,  English speaking should be available. More chance of getting some meaningful on the scene first aid from these services but they are more costly.

 

One can also call the general emergency number 191 but may be slower and also little/no English

 

if all else fails call Tourist Police 1155, will be slower in that they will then have to contact the medical emergency number fr you, but they will speak English

 

@mikey88  if your friend can afford care at either Bangkok Hospital or CM Ram suggest he put their ambulance numbers on his phone speed dial.

 

It would also be wise for him to have on speed dial a friend  or neighbor who speaks both Thai and English.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Pouatchee]

13 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

But for those who do not speak Thai well (or at all) communicating may be an issue. The caller will need to be able to give clear information about where they are located

 

Exactly what i said in the first post of ghis thread but seems some 'in the know' members here disagree.

 

As you also mention stress does nothing to make matters easier.

[Sheryl]

@mikey88   also need to consider how ambulance would get into his place - if he is serious enough to need one, might not be able to get to the door.

 

He should consider giving a copy of his key to a trusted neighbor , preferrably one who speaks both English and Thai.

 

 

 

 

[JimTripper]

6 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Best to call GRAB and get to the hospital of choice .......

NakornPing half way on the road to CM, or SanSai on the road to MaeJo are your nearest hospital choices.

 

What happens if I'm having a heart attack?

[BritManToo]

11 minutes ago, JimTripper said:

What happens if I'm having a heart attack?

The op said he was calling for a friend.

As far as I know the Thai ambulances don't have equipment to deal with heart attacks.

[Sheryl]

10 minutes ago, JimTripper said:

What happens if I'm having a heart attack?

Depends on your condition.

 

On the scene interventions of the type people are used to from EMTs in their home countries are rare here so there is less value to having an ambulance vs getting to hospital on your own if that is physically possible.

 

I would say, if able to walk  at least short distance, and if there is no contraindication to being moved (as in case with possible spine injury etc) Grab taxi (or equivalent - app that lets you input the destination) to hospital of choice is best as you will reach the hospital and thus start treatment sooner.

 

good idea as well to think through ahead of time what hospital you want to go to in an emergency.

[JimTripper]

23 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Depends on your condition.

 

On the scene interventions of the type people are used to from EMTs in their home countries are rare here so there is less value to having an ambulance vs getting to hospital on your own if that is physically possible.

 

I would say, if able to walk  at least short distance, and if there is no contraindication to being moved (as in case with possible spine injury etc) Grab taxi (or equivalent - app that lets you input the destination) to hospital of choice is best as you will reach the hospital and thus start treatment sooner.

 

good idea as well to think through ahead of time what hospital you want to go to in an emergency.

 

That would be a disaster in an emergency if I were living alone. Good reason to repatriate back to home country when a lot older and medical issues start appearing. In the Usa they have those alert services where you just press a button and they come.

 

[BritManToo]

9 minutes ago, JimTripper said:

 

Bad news! Buy the time I get there and they register me and take care of the insurance I would probably be dead.

 

When I suffered my hit and run RTA 2 months back, an ambulance (and police) was with me at the roadside when I regained consciousness, and I was on the table at San Sai government hospital around 10 minutes later. They didn't ask for any documentation until 2 days later.

 

It's the private hospitals that make you wait for emergency treatment.

[JimTripper]

11 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

When I suffered my hit and run RTA 2 months back, an ambulance (and police) was with me at the roadside when I regained consciousness, and I was on the table at San Sai government hospital around 10 minutes later. They didn't ask for any documentation until 2 days later.

 

It's the private hospitals that make you wait for emergency treatment.

I feel like I would not know what to do if that happened and they were not around. Call the 1669 number I guess, or hope a good samaritan helps.