HealthInfo Aoraki South Canterbury
Emergency medical help
Āwhina hauora ohotata
Important
Phone 111 and ask for an ambulance if someone has:
- chest pain or tightness (they may also feel pain or tightness in their arm, jaw, neck or tummy)
- difficulty breathing
- choking
- sudden weakness or difficulty talking (this may be a stroke)
- fainting or unconsciousness (not being awake)
- severe pain
- severe bleeding or bleeding that won’t stop.
Calling 111 for an ambulance has information about calling 111 in a medical emergency and what happens when you call.
If you have a minor injury or illness or a long-term condition, see your general practice team. See After-hours medical care to find out what you should do if you need health advice or health care after hours.
Medical emergencies
A medical emergency is when there is a sudden onset of a medical condition. This list of medical conditions gives you first aid advice and tells you when to call 111.
Mental health emergencies
Important
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call emergency services on 111.
If you or someone you know is safe but in a crisis and needs help, you can contact your local mental health crisis team (TACT) on 0800-277-997.
You can also call the following suicide crisis helplines 24/7:
- Suicide Crisis Helpline 0508‑828‑865
- Lifeline 0800‑543‑354 or txt 4357
If the person you're worried about needs to be forcibly stopped from doing something that could end their life, call the police immediately on 111 for support. Stay with them until the police arrive.
See Suicide help for more advice.
If you or someone you know needs mental health support urgently but you do not think anyone's safety is immediately threatened, call your local mental health crisis team on 0800‑277‑997.
You can call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
There are several helplines you can call if you need to talk to someone.
Poisoning
In case of medicine or chemical poisoning, contact the Poison Information Service immediately: 0800‑POISON (0800‑764‑766) or seek medical advice from another health professional.
Phone 111 for an ambulance if:
- the person is unconscious or having difficulty breathing
- you're worried that the person looks very ill
- the Poisons Information Service has told you to do so.
Do not try to make the person vomit or give them food or liquid until you have been given advice. See Chemical poisoning for more advice.
On the next page: Calling 111 for an ambulance
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed December 2022.
Review key: HIEMG-274747
