How to Call an Ambulance in Beijing
There are a lot of scary things about living in China. The air is less than ideal. The traffic can be daunting. The food doesn't seem as clean as it could be. But, at Beijing United Family Hospital (BJU), we like to think that we're taking care of all of your medical concerns – and one of the biggest concerns we hear from the expat community is about calling emergency medical services in case of an accident. If you ever need emergency care in China, here is what you need to do.
Part I: Before an emergency happens, be prepared
Step 1: Save the emergency numbers into your phone
Do this right now! The two numbers you need are 120, a Mandarin-language ambulance dispatch service run by the Beijing Emergency Medical Center, and 5927 7120, BJU's English and Mandarin ER hotline. You may have heard that 999, the International Red Cross service, is also an option, but we hear that this number is being phased out over the next two years.
Step 2: Know where your nearest emergency facility is
In case a medical emergency does happen, it may help you to know where your nearest facility is and whether it is open 24 hours a day. BJU's Emergency Room and Pediatric Emergency Room, located at 2 Jiangtai Road, Lido, are both open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Emergency services are available at the United Family Shunyi Clinic during clinic hours, seven days a week. If there is a facility that is closer to your home, work, or other places you frequent, look them up to see if they are open 24 hours a day (some are only open during the day) in case you need urgent care after hours.
If you find yourself in an emergency situation and you don't know where your nearest emergency facility is, don't worry – just call the BJU ER hotline at 5927 7120 and they can help you figure it out.
Step 4: Carry cash on you at all times
Should you ever need to use ambulance services, the ambulance staff will require you to pay in cash when you arrive at the hospital, so it’s good practice to carry some cash on you at all times. Around RMB 500 should be enough unless you are very far from the hospital. There is a fixed fee for the first 3 km and a per-kilometer rate after that. BJU can help cover these fees when you arrive at our ER if you have no cash on you.
Part II: In case of an emergency, know what to do
Step 1: Work out if your emergency is life-threatening
In some cases, Beijing's traffic and language barriers may mean that getting into a taxi or calling a Didi on your phone may be the fastest way to get you to the hospital. However, you should only do this if your situation is not life-threatening. Are you bleeding profusely? Do you think you’re having a heart attack or a stroke? Have you injured your head or spine? Are you unable to walk? In these cases, it’s best to get an ambulance.
Not sure if your condition is life-threatening? Don't worry – just call the BJU ER hotline at 5927 7120 and they can help you figure it out.
Step 2: Call the Beijing ambulance service at 120
If your condition is life-threatening, you need to call an ambulance so that medical help can get to you as soon as possible. If you speak Chinese or have access to a Chinese speaker, then call 120 and you will have a much faster ambulance-calling experience. Before you call, try to figure out your exact street address, as this will speed up the ambulance dispatch process.
Step 3: Call BJU's ER hotline at 5927 7120
If you don't speak Chinese or have access to a Chinese speaker, please call the BJU ER hotline at 5927 7120. This 24-hour hotline is manned by our English-speaking ER receptionists, who are trained in coordinating emergencies. Our receptionists can help to call 120 on your behalf and explain to them in Chinese where you are and what the situation is.
Step 4: When the ambulance arrives
As a default, your ambulance driver will take you to the nearest public hospital. If you prefer to be taken to BJU, you can ask to be driven to BJU’s emergency room by telling the driver “我想去和睦家医院 (wǒ xiǎng qù hémùjiā yīyuàn)". If you are reasonably close, the driver should be happy to cooperate. You may simply be charged a higher fee for driving a farther distance.
How else should you use the BJU emergency hotline?
The emergency hotline is available 24 hours a day, and should be used:
• If you or someone around you has a medical emergency and you don't know if it's life-threatening;
• If you or someone around you has a non-life-threatening medical emergency and you want to know where the closest ER is;
• To facilitate calling an ambulance in an emergency situation if you don't speak Chinese;
• To alert the ER staff that you are on your way in an ambulance so they can be ready when you arrive.
• Phone consultations – If you need medical advice that isn’t urgent, you can call our service center at 4008-919191, which is available 24 hours a day;
• Making appointments – If you need to see a doctor for a non-emergency medical issue, you can call our service center 24 hours a day at 4008-919191 to make an appointment.
You've called the ambulance and help is on its way. Great! Here's what you can do while you wait for the emergency services to arrive.
Want to learn some first-aid skills so you know what to do if trouble strikes? BJU has classes! Learn how to get certified in first aid now.