One of the biggest concerns we hear from the expat community in China is about calling emergency medical services in case of an accident. What happens if I don't speak Chinese? Will I have to pay for the ambulance upfront? Is it true that calling a taxi is sometimes better? For answers to all these questions and more, keep calm and read on.
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.
Step 3: 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.
In case of an emergency, know what to do
Step 1: Work out if your emergency is life-threateningIn 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? Are you unable to breathe? 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.
Step 2: Call the Beijing ambulance service at 120If 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 speak to the operator in Chinese. This is by far the best way to get an ambulance to you as quickly as possible. If you need to, get the help of a neighbor or passerby for the ambulance calling process. 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 7120If you don't speak Chinese or have access to a Chinese speaker, you can call the BJU ER hotline at 5927 7120 as a last resort. 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.
Please note that the BJU ER can be very busy during certain periods. Exactly when these periods are can vary according to circumstance, but you can usually count on the busiest times being weekends, weekday evenings from 6-10 pm, and flu season (October to April). During very busy times, our staff will prioritize people who are already in the ER and there may be fewer people manning the phones. This is why calling 120 and using Mandarin is always the best way to get to the hospital.
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 BJU emergency hotline is available 24 hours a day and should be used:• 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 (this is not essential).
What should the emergency hotline not be used for? • 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.