Making an Emergency Contact Call
A person has an urgent situation and needs to call 911 (or local equivalent) or a designated emergency contact, describing the situation clearly.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
emergency
A sudden and serious situation that needs immediate help, like a medical problem or accident. Use it when calling for urgent assistance.
ambulance
A special vehicle with medical equipment that takes sick or injured people to the hospital quickly. Request it for serious health issues.
collapsed
When someone suddenly falls down and loses strength, often due to illness. Describe this if you see a person faint.
conscious
Awake and able to think or respond. In emergencies, check if the person is conscious by asking if they can hear you.
breathing
The process of taking air into and out of the lungs. In first aid, it's important to check if someone is still breathing.
injuries
Physical harm or wounds on the body, like cuts or bruises. Report any visible injuries during an emergency call.
paramedics
Trained medical professionals who arrive first at emergencies to give immediate care. They often come with the ambulance.
stay on the line
To keep talking on the phone without hanging up. Emergency operators say this to guide you until help arrives.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
911, what's your emergency?
This is the standard opening question from emergency services in the US. It's useful to know as a listener; as a caller, be ready to explain your problem clearly right away.
I need an ambulance at 123 Maple Street.
A direct way to request help and give your location. Use this pattern: 'I need [help type] at [address]' to communicate urgency quickly. The grammar uses simple present tense for immediate needs.
Can you tell me if they're conscious or breathing?
This asks for important details about the person's condition using a polite question form with 'can you tell me if...'. It's useful for operators or when helping someone gather info in emergencies.
They're not conscious, and I can't tell if they're breathing.
Describes the situation using negative forms ('not conscious', 'can't tell'). Practice this to report facts clearly; the 'and' connects related details for better flow.
An ambulance is on its way.
Reassures the caller that help is coming, using present continuous ('is on its way') to show ongoing action. Use similar phrases to calm people in tense situations.
Please stay on the line with me.
A polite instruction to remain on the call, starting with 'please' for courtesy. The preposition 'with me' specifies who to stay connected to; essential in emergencies for guidance.
Thank you, I appreciate it.
Expresses gratitude politely after receiving help. 'Appreciate it' is a common idiom meaning 'I'm thankful for it.' Use this to end conversations positively, especially in stressful scenarios.