Australia has three emergency numbers. You can dial 112 to contact emergency services if you are using a cell phone. You can call 106 if you are using a teletypewriter. People who have speech or hearing impairments use teletypewriters to communicate. The primary emergency services number is 000. You can contact emergency services by dialing 000 on landlines and mobile phones. You cannot contact 000 by text message.
Thousands of people call 000 every day. You should call 000 to request emergency fire, police, or ambulance services. You will not be charged for calling 000.
Ambulance Services
You can use 000 to contact emergency medical services if you or someone else is having a health emergency. Medical emergencies can stem from pre-existing illnesses, health emergencies, and accidents. For example, a person with diabetes may have a seizure if their blood sugar is low. You may also call 000 if a person has a heart attack or stroke. You may also need to call 000 to request an ambulance if you are in or witness a car accident.
Ambulance services may bill you for several reasons. Some states charge a fee just for discharging ambulance services. If paramedics provide you with medical care, you will receive a bill. There are additional charges for being transported by ambulance or air ambulance. In 2018 the cost of being transported by helicopter was over $10,000. Medicare does not provide ambulance coverage.
Your ambulance cover will pay for some or all of your bills from ambulance services. You can compare ambulance cover with iSelect to find the best ambulance cover for your needs. Your ambulance cover needs vary from state to state. It is crucial to determine what services are covered by your state and your health insurance plan. Your coverage may also change if you move to another state, so it’s a good idea to review your coverage needs.
Fire Department
You should call 000 if your house or another person’s property is on fire. The operator may ask you to identify the city you are calling from if you dial 000 from a mobile phone. You may need to provide landmarks if you are calling from a rural area.
You should also call 000 if you see a field or woods on fire. Forest fires can spread quickly and cause loss of life.
You will be asked what direction you are traveling in if you need to contact fire services from a roadway. You will also need to identify the last town you drove through or the last exit you passed on the road to determine your location. You may need to call 000 from a roadside if your vehicle or another vehicle is on fire.
Police Department
You should call 000 if you have witnessed a crime or been the victim of a crime. You may choose to contact your local police department directly if you are calling after the crime has occurred. For example, you may call your local police department if you realize someone unlawfully entered your home and stole possessions while you were away.
You may not be able to speak to an operator if you are witnessing a crime in progress. If you are unable to talk, you can dial 000. An automated answering system will ask if you need fire, police, or medical services. If you are unable to answer the question, your call will be transferred. You will be asked to dial 55 if you need emergency assistance. Your call will be forwarded to the police when you dial 55.
If you call from a cell phone and are unable to provide information about your location, the police may have difficulty finding you.
