Calling An Ambulance - How To?

[helvellyn]

Hi,

Sorry for the morbid topic. How would one call an ambulance in an emergency in Chiang Mai? I.e. The equivalent of 999 in England.

I heard that if you don't speak Thai you can call the Tourist Police. Not sure whether you can only call them from a public phone box (or from a mobile), whether you need money to make the call, and whether they answer 24 x 7 or not.

Any pointers would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[Golfja]

Hi,

Sorry for the morbid topic. How would one call an ambulance in an emergency in Chiang Mai? I.e. The equivalent of 999 in England.

I heard that if you don't speak Thai you can call the Tourist Police. Not sure whether you can only call them from a public phone box (or from a mobile), whether you need money to make the call, and whether they answer 24 x 7 or not.

Any pointers would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Calling 1669 will get you 1 of 3 level of ambulance services:

Critical / Life-threatening: Advanced Life Support ambulance from government hospital

Others: Basic Life Support ambulance from foundation or First Response ambulance (mostly pick-ups) from local administrative office.

If you live far away from district center, it's likely that you won't get ALS ambulance in the first place (too far). But most critical patient within not too far distance from district center will usually get attended by an ALS ambulance within 10 minutes (75% of all ambulance run).

[sassienie]

The usual over here for those who live outside of town, is to throw the patient into the back of a neighbours pickup truck and hope for the best until he/she arrives at a hospital.

[gpdjohn]

The usual over here for those who live outside of town, is to throw the patient into the back of a neighbours pickup truck and hope for the best until he/she arrives at a hospital.

Happens inside town as well.

Make plans for someone to drive you beforehand.

ALS here is a joke. You're on your own.

( Advanced life support here is a nurse in the back of the ambulance looking you in the eye and holding your hand, and hoping you don't die before she gets out at the ER )

[chiangmaibruce]

My suggestion is go to your most trusted hospital and ask them for the phone number for their ambulance service, and keep this number in your mobile phone. then when you start gasping call the number - if someone answers - and if they can speak english - tell them you address - and then maybe sometime later they will find your house.

You would never find our home using the address we use for post ... and if we give the street address .... well on one end of the soi it has one number and there is another number on the sign at the other end of the soi. In short even locals can't find us ... i suspect many others are in the same position.

eat your veges and don't get sick - Pray hard if you do

[elektrified]

My suggestion is go to your most trusted hospital and ask them for the phone number for their ambulance service, and keep this number in your mobile phone. then when you start gasping call the number - if someone answers - and if they can speak english - tell them you address - and then maybe sometime later they will find your house.

You would never find our home using the address we use for post ... and if we give the street address .... well on one end of the soi it has one number and there is another number on the sign at the other end of the soi. In short even locals can't find us ... i suspect many others are in the same position.

eat your veges and don't get sick - Pray hard if you do

Locals can never find us either. In the last year the only person to have ever found us (without making a single call for directions) is the delivery guy from mealsonwheels4u. Sometimes repair people have to call 3-4 times as they are hopelessly lost in the moo baan. An ambulance would never find our place.

[Blinky Bill]

On many occasions I've seen the Foundation Rescue guys picking up injured drivers and riders by arms and legs when obviously there are serious breaks in these appendages. The head is often just left to support itself, in which case if the neck was broken the injured party will be either permanently paralyzed or killed.

As Gpdjohn said, "ALS here is a joke. You're on your own." The rescue folks in Thailand have virtually no training at all.

[gpdjohn]

After my accident last year and the day I was released from the hospital, my right lung collapsed. Needless to say breathing became somewhat of a problem, a real problem.

Wife called the emergency number and informed them of our address.

20 minutes and still a no show.

Wife called again ( Thai speaker ) and again informed them where to go.

Another 10 minutes.

Wife at this point was frantic, I was holding myself up at the fence fighting for breath.

She calls again. Still no ambulance.

Few more minutes pass..

I see the flashing blue light on top of the "meat wagon" parking down the street.

I had to walk to the ambulance so they could find me.

Climbed in without any assistance, the nurse stood there looking at me and saying that I did indeed look like I was having some problems.. duh.

Off we go...the nurse telling me it was alright, me fighting for some O2.

Then she began the advanced life support..

She gently took me by the hand.

[Golfja]

Last year 750,000 ambulance responses were dispatched by 1669 center, this year is estimated at 1 million responses. However, people requiring ambulance or pre-hospital care in thailand is estimated at 4 million per year. If you are lucky enough to be in high coverage area such as Khon Kaen, Nakornsawan, Korat, Ubonrachatani (Bangkok is not included !!!) the coverage is more than 50% and it's likely you will get ALS ambulance within 10 minutes more than 80% of all calls (other places 75% or lower).

There are also some training of EMS ambulance personal in thailand.

1. Paramedic Nurse: registered nurse with 14 days of ambulance operation training.

2. Emergency Medical Technician - Intermediate: 2 years of pre-hospital care training at Khon Khaen, Chiangmai.

3. Emergency Medical Technician - basic: 1 month of training by provincial hospital.

4. First Responder: 16 hours of training by provincial hospital.

The most frequent reason why you don't get ambulance when needed is that no one is calling 1669 for you.

[SwaziBird]

Hi,

Sorry for the morbid topic. How would one call an ambulance in an emergency in Chiang Mai? I.e. The equivalent of 999 in England.

I heard that if you don't speak Thai you can call the Tourist Police. Not sure whether you can only call them from a public phone box (or from a mobile), whether you need money to make the call, and whether they answer 24 x 7 or not.

Any pointers would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Calling 1669 will get you 1 of 3 level of ambulance services:

Critical / Life-threatening: Advanced Life Support ambulance from government hospital

Others: Basic Life Support ambulance from foundation or First Response ambulance (mostly pick-ups) from local administrative office.

If you live far away from district center, it's likely that you won't get ALS ambulance in the first place (too far). But most critical patient within not too far distance from district center will usually get attended by an ALS ambulance within 10 minutes (75% of all ambulance run).

Haven't had to call an ambulance yet, but only the other day I stopped in at Ram Hospital to check out the contents/equipment carried in their ambulances.

I was informed that when they turn out , they do so with 4 personnel. The driver, an attendant, a nurse and a doctor.

Seems like a pretty useful complement to me.

I clean forgot to ask for their 'phone number !

Cheers.

[Blinky Bill]

Back in the previous life as a cop in the west many years ago my experience of doctors at accident/trauma scenes was not good. From my experience doctors do very well in their own environment, ie. the hospital and ER where everything is set up for them, they know what they are doing and how to go about putting people back together and maintaining life.

The guys and gals who do the work well on the street are the trained paramedics who are specialists in working in wrecks and very difficult situations.

Thailand has a few specialist paramedics but fortunately for some accident victims the situation is changing, but ever so slowly.

There are also some training of EMS ambulance personal in thailand.

1. Paramedic Nurse: registered nurse with 14 days of ambulance operation training.

2. Emergency Medical Technician - Intermediate: 2 years of pre-hospital care training at Khon Khaen, Chiangmai.

3. Emergency Medical Technician - basic: 1 month of training by provincial hospital.

4. First Responder: 16 hours of training by provincial hospital.

Not wanting to criticize Golfja, but this amount of training is extremely basic. One could barely learn to properly administer EAR or CPR in this time frame.

[Golfja]

1. Paramedic Nurse: registered nurse with 14 days of ambulance operation training.

2. Emergency Medical Technician - Intermediate: 2 years of pre-hospital care training at Khon Khaen, Chiangmai.

3. Emergency Medical Technician - basic: 1 month of training by provincial hospital.

4. First Responder: 16 hours of training by provincial hospital.

Not wanting to criticize Golfja, but this amount of training is extremely basic. One could barely learn to properly administer EAR or CPR in this time frame.

I don't think Thai training is inadequate, especially for EMT-I which is too long. Thailand is actually instead suffer from lacking of well-established Emergency Medical System.

Back to training, for Paramedic Nurse course, it's designed for registered nurse who are actually work in hospital's emergency room with training such as intubtion from several position, reading EKG, defibbrillation using AED, etc. Also, since minimum standard in U.S. is the same 110 hours (1 month) for EMT-Basic and 6 months- 1 year for Paramedic, of course most states train their EMT-Basic a little longer than 110 hours. Next year (2010) 2 universities will open their Paramedic course for undergraduate program (4 years), one in Mahasarakam university and another in Rangsit university.

[gpdjohn]

I don't think Thai training is inadequate, especially for EMT-I which is too long. Thailand is actually instead suffer from lacking of well-established Emergency Medical System.

Back to training, for Paramedic Nurse course, it's designed for registered nurse who are actually work in hospital's emergency room with training such as intubtion from several position, reading EKG, defibbrillation using AED, etc. Also, since minimum standard in U.S. is the same 110 hours (1 month) for EMT-Basic and 6 months- 1 year for Paramedic, of course most states train their EMT-Basic a little longer than 110 hours. Next year (2010) 2 universities will open their Paramedic course for undergraduate program (4 years), one in Mahasarakam university and another in Rangsit university.

Well, we can only hope that they get these folks into the field ASAP and I agree with you that the EMS system here is well below par.

AED? A monkey could work one by looking at the pictures on it.. Also in my previous life as a cop in the States, took my department approx 3 hrs to teach us monkeys how to use it.

But then again, we could get ALS on scene within 4 minutes.

[Golfja]

The system is quite different, when an ambulance is dispatched in U.S. usually they are already rolling on the street, making it possible for 4 minute response, same as most Basic Life Support ambulances in Thailand, especially in Bangkok where they can be easily on scene in 4-5 minutes after dispatched.

[Blinky Bill]

The system is quite different, when an ambulance is dispatched in U.S. usually they are already rolling on the street, making it possible for 4 minute response, same as most Basic Life Support ambulances in Thailand, especially in Bangkok where they can be easily on scene in 4-5 minutes after dispatched.

I think you may be a little incorrect there Golfja, Emergency vehicles are not usually rolling on the streets in the western world, they are based at depots and dispatched when required.

How do you suppose Basic Life Support vehicles can reach the scene in 4-5 minutes (especially in Bangkok) given the traffic conditions that prevail in many cities around the country? Some years ago Taksin S. proposed that the Thai Military use their Chinook helicopters to remove broken down or crashed vehicles from the roads. Maybe they could use them for emergency medical support.

Edited July 5, 2009 by Blinky Bill

[elektrified]

I too, was wondering how an ambulance could be on scene in 4-5 minutes in Bangkok. I don't see how that would be possible.

[WaiWai]

Made me google. You may like to save these numbers, for whatever they are worth ...

1 LANNA HOSPITAL

1 Sukkasem Road, Kwang Nakornping, T.pa Tan A.muang Chiangmai 50300, Thailand

heading: Ambulance Services

2 RAJAVEJ CHIANGMAI HOSPITAL

316/1 Chiangmai-lamphun Rd., T.watkat, A.muang Chiangmai 50000, Thailand

heading: Ambulance Services

3 CHANGPUEK HOSPITAL

1/7 Changpuek Soi 2, A.muang Chiangmai 50200, Thailand

heading: Ambulance Services

4 CHIANGMAI RAM HOSPITAL

8 Boonreungrit Rd., A.muang Chiangmai 50200, Thailand

heading: Ambulance Services

5 MAHARAJ NAKORN CHIANG MAI HOSPITAL

110/392 Intawaroros Road, Sripat Building A. Maung Chiangmai 50200, Thailand

heading: Ambulance Services

http://www.yellow.co.th/YellowPages/Chiang...vices_map.1.htm

[gpdjohn]

The system is quite different, when an ambulance is dispatched in U.S. usually they are already rolling on the street, making it possible for 4 minute response, same as most Basic Life Support ambulances in Thailand, especially in Bangkok where they can be easily on scene in 4-5 minutes after dispatched.

I think you may be a little incorrect there Golfja, Emergency vehicles are not usually rolling on the streets in the western world, they are based at depots and dispatched when required.

~ ~ ~

BB is correct.

Where I come from ambulances are only called after the Fire Department Paramedics have requested one, which is seldom since the fire dept has their own EMS vehicles.

4 minutes was and is considered a slow response time and the department is constantly striving to reduce that figure.

Units are dispatched on a "mutual aid" system where the closest and available unit is located, no matter what city it is in.

Working as a cop and having been involved in several shootings and dynamic entries on high risk search warrants, I fully trusted my FD paramedics to save my life if need be. My last shooting in which my partner was killed, they were there working on him while we were still involved chasing the suspect in a running gun battle down the street.

( yes, they also wear body armor, sad state of affairs when paramedics have to do that..)

My former employer continues to work on a less than 3 minute response and patient at the hospital within 10 minutes from their arrival on scene. The public should not expect less.

But back to Thai EMS,

As I stated before....

You are on your own here, prepare for it. The level of care I have seen and experienced has been prehistoric at best.

[WaiWai]

Sorry!

In my post (2nd next above) the phone numbers did not copy here. However, they are there if you go to the link.

Can't be sure they are current, of course ...

[T_Dog]

When my sister passed out on the walking street last year, I luckily had the business card for Maharaj Hospital. A competent group arrived (albeit in thirty minutes due to traffic) and all was well a few hours later. I had tried the emergency numbers and tourist police to no avail. (Tourist police did not have an English speaker on the phone.)

My advice is develop a relationship with a good hospital and carry their card at all times.

[elektrified]

When my sister passed out on the walking street last year, I luckily had the business card for Maharaj Hospital. A competent group arrived (albeit in thirty minutes due to traffic) and all was well a few hours later. I had tried the emergency numbers and tourist police to no avail. (Tourist police did not have an English speaker on the phone.)

My advice is develop a relationship with a good hospital and carry their card at all times.

Sound advice. The one and only time I called the Tourist Police, no English speaker was available either.

[Golfja]

BLS ambulances in Bangkok are usually stationed outside its base, often at petrol station, or rolling along the street, so their response time is 4-5 minutes. It happens many times for me that they arrive only 2 minutes after calling 1669, once in Chiangmai near night bazaar (central chiangmai ambulance) and another time at Siam Center (Ruamkatayu ambulance).

For the number to call, 1669 is covered in every provinces and each agency is given a limited response zone, when an 1669 call come in, the dispatcher will assign a job to one of these agencies to response.

talking about response time, when i used to work for EMS at Rajavithi hospital for 3 years, we can enroute from our base in 1 minute and we are able to reach Mor Chit bus terminal or other places at that distance within 6 minutes. Of course reaching Ladpraw 80 or somewhere that far take us 15 minutes but that's when no ALS ambulance is available there.

I am sure there is no other better way for calling an ambulance in Thailand, otherwise you have to remember every hospital phone numbers along your every trip !!!!

[Blinky Bill]

BLS ambulances (?), I guess are the meat wagons we often see driving recklessly with lights flashing, sirens blaring and young guys at the helm. I've seen these guys cause accidents by the way they drive on more than a few occasions.

Anyway..........

Getting there is one thing (although I doubt very much that the response is as quick as you say Golfja, very occasionally yes, but normally no). But then getting proper first aid administered and transporting the patient (victim) to the nearest hospital is another situation altogether.

I don't mean to sound negative but I agree with my friend gpdjohn, the system in Thailand is prehistoric. But on a brighter note, it is a lot better than in many of the countries I've had the displeasure to work in over the years.

[Golfja]

prehistoric ?? well, take a look...

This is public ALS ambulance service (EMS) in service since 1995 or 14 years ago. At that time the service cover only a few area but today it's cover every provinces, and it's still a free service (subsidized by government budget) for emergency patients only. If you are lucky to live in high response area such as Khon Kaen, Lampang, Nakornsawan, the service covers over 50%, but other places the figure is below that, because people don't dial 1669 fast or suffer from less cooperation from the police and rescue volunteers.

For BLS ambulances, they are mostly pick-up trucks manned by EMT-Basic (110 hours of training), most accident victims are scooped and run by these units since advanced care is more effective in medical emergencies rather than accident.

[gpdjohn]

prehistoric ?? well, take a look...

This is public ALS ambulance service (EMS) in service since 1995 or 14 years ago. At that time the service cover only a few area but today it's cover every provinces, and it's still a free service (subsidized by government budget) for emergency patients only. If you are lucky to live in high response area such as Khon Kaen, Lampang, Nakornsawan, the service covers over 50%, but other places the figure is below that, because people don't dial 1669 fast or suffer from less cooperation from the police and rescue volunteers.

For BLS ambulances, they are mostly pick-up trucks manned by EMT-Basic (110 hours of training), most accident victims are scooped and run by these units since advanced care is more effective in medical emergencies rather than accident.

I'm sorry, I do not understand this.

Is an accident not considered a "medical emergency"?

Sprained ankle, ok..I agree, but what are you defining as a "accident" ?

[gpdjohn]

On a more serious side....

[Golfja]

I'm sorry, I do not understand this.

Is an accident not considered a "medical emergency"?

Sprained ankle, ok..I agree, but what are you defining as a "accident" ?

I'm no expert about this but "advanced care" (a.k.a. stay and play) in pre-hospital setting use much more time than "basic care" (a.k.a scoop and run). In an accident, victim needs to get to operation room as fast as possible, of course with proper care to airway and immobilization, but in medical emergencies such as heart attack or strokes, advanced care such as intubation, IVs, emergency medications prove more effective in saving lives. The most famous debate one was the accident of princes Diana, the responded SAMUR (French EMS) unit "stayed and played" with Diana over a few hours at scene and during transport, the ambulance traveled 20 KM/hr to the hospital and stopped several times along the route for treatment. The French EMS system is the concept of bringing mobile hospital to the patient, however, it delays the time it takes the patient to get operated.

[Blinky Bill]

I'm sorry, I do not understand this.

Is an accident not considered a "medical emergency"?

Sprained ankle, ok..I agree, but what are you defining as a "accident" ?

I'm no expert about this but "advanced care" (a.k.a. stay and play) in pre-hospital setting use much more time than "basic care" (a.k.a scoop and run). In an accident, victim needs to get to operation room as fast as possible, of course with proper care to airway and immobilization, but in medical emergencies such as heart attack or strokes, advanced care such as intubation, IVs, emergency medications prove more effective in saving lives. The most famous debate one was the accident of princes Diana, the responded SAMUR (French EMS) unit "stayed and played" with Diana over a few hours at scene and during transport, the ambulance traveled 20 KM/hr to the hospital and stopped several times along the route for treatment. The French EMS system is the concept of bringing mobile hospital to the patient, however, it delays the time it takes the patient to get operated.

What are you on about Golfja?

I feel that you are a little confused, well I sure am at least, I'm trying to make sense of your theories but it isn't quite working.

[SwaziBird]

Hi,

Sorry for the morbid topic. How would one call an ambulance in an emergency in Chiang Mai? I.e. The equivalent of 999 in England.

I heard that if you don't speak Thai you can call the Tourist Police. Not sure whether you can only call them from a public phone box (or from a mobile), whether you need money to make the call, and whether they answer 24 x 7 or not.

Any pointers would be appreciated.

Thanks.

I have already posted that I had inspected an ambulance at Ram hospital and was impressed by the fact that there was a complement of 4 persons on their emergency ambulances. I live very close to that hospital and my wife and I have used their services for surgery etc with complete satisfaction over a number of years. (I know that there are some TV members who just will not be able to wait to tell me that the service I am totally satisfied with is , in fact, not satisfactory !!!!! ) - but back to your question. If you satisfy yourself that Ram 1 hospital is where you want to be taken thou can do this :-

Phone 053- 895001 - ( double check this yourself ).

This number will connect you directly to the Emergency Department ( 24 hrs. ) and it is from there that the ambulance is despatched.

Now if you feel that this is not the hospital you wish to be taken to or that the ambulance provided might not be up to your standard then I recommend that you speak to other hospitals providing an ambulance service and get their emergency room telephone numbers.

BTW I served in the Emergency ambulance service in Australia for 19 years up to paramedic grade - so I have a fair idea of what's what.

Good luck. Good choice.

Cheers

Edited July 7, 2009 by SwaziBird

[Golfja]

What are you on about Golfja?

I feel that you are a little confused, well I sure am at least, I'm trying to make sense of your theories but it isn't quite working.

Well, just explained the differences between medical emergencies and accident emergencies (trauma).

In Chiangmai, when dialing 1669, it will route you to Viengping EMS Command and Control Center at Nakornping Hospital. They just opened its new 1669 headquater last year, it's equipped for the first time, camera system that can transmit video live from emergency scenes to 1669 center through CDMA network.

I'm glad we have this system in Thailand, for helping the ones who need.