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Someone is seriously injured or is in critical need of medical care if they have:
Uncontrollable bleeding
Chest pain or tightness
Difficulty breathing
Injury from serious accident
Fits or seizures
Broken bone/s
Serious burns
Unconsciousness
A fall from great height
Snakebite
In infants: allergic reactions or ongoing fever.
If it is an emergency:
In outback South Australia: 1800 RFDS SA (1800 733 772)
In the Northern Territory: 000
Satellite Telephone: 8648 9555
HF Radio: (4010kHz, 6890kHz or 8165kHz)
Operations Communications Centre (OCC): (08) 8648 9501
If you are providing first aid on-scene:
(if possible) ask someone else to make the phone call.
(if needed) access our First Aid Factsheets here for quick reference guides.
For any mental health emergency:
In South Australia, 24/7 Mental Health Triage Service: 13 14 65
In the Northern Territory, NT Mental Health Line: 1800 682 288
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Someone is in need of urgent care if they have:
Mild burns
Lacerations
Sprains
Fractures
Eye problems
Ear problems
Persistent vomiting
Suspected poisoning
Experienced a serious assault
Dehydration
If you require urgent medical advice:
Call Healthdirect Australia on 1800 022 222 for 24/7 free health advice from an on-call registered nurse.
If you are not sure if it’s an emergency or urgent care event, please call us on 1800 733 772 and ask to speak with the Doctor on duty.
For urgent mental health support:
In South Australia, SA Health 24/7 Mental Health Triage Service: 13 14 65
In the Northern Territory, NT Mental Health Line: 1800 682 288
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Call: 1800 RFDS SA (1800 733 772)
Satellite Telephone:8648 9555
HF Radio: (4010kHz, 6890kHz or 8165kHz)
Operations Communications Centre (OCC):(08) 8648 9501
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24/7 Mental Health Helplines’ poster is a printable resource for displaying in common areas or dongas.
Download the poster here24/7 Mental Health Helpline Directory:
Lifeline provides 24-hour crisis counselling, support groups and suicide prevention services.
Call 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 or chat online.Suicide Call Back Service provides 24/7 support if you or someone you know is feeling suicidal.
Call 1300 659 467.Beyond Blue aims to increase awareness of depression and anxiety and reduce stigma.
Call 1300 224 636 or chat online.Kids Helpline is Australia's only free 24/7 confidential and private counselling service specifically for children and young people aged 5 – 25.
Call 1800 551 800.13YARN provides 24/7 free and confidential crisis support.
Call 13 92 76.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
EMERGENCY-READY RESOURCES
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Our First Aid Factsheets provide:
A quick reference guide to the most common first aid issues
Easy links to help you jump straight to the page you need
Printable resource for displaying in common areas or keeping in your glove box.
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Is your airstrip ready for a plane to land?
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The RFDS supports remote South Australian communities to be ready for health emergencies by:
Offering free accredited First Aid training
Supplying and maintaining AED machines (heart defibrillators)
Providing Medical Chests stocked with essential supplies for emergency and routine care.
For more information about any of these services, please click the above links provided.
HAVE YOU HEARD OF our Virtual Emergency Centre IN William Creek?
In 2023, the RFDS launched its first Virtual Emergency Centre in the South Australian outback tourism town of William Creek that provides 24/7 emergency medical care with no health professionals physically in the room.
In the event of a medical emergency, an intercom on the side of the building enables community members and tourists passing along the Oodnadatta Track to contact the RFDS and access the virtual emergency centre at all times of day and night.
William Creek Virtual Emergency Centre:
Private space for face-to-face telehealth assessment with an RFDS Doctor.
Easy-to-operate diagnostic equipment; the doctor can direct you to take your pulse, temperature, heart rate, real-time images of wounds and more.
RFDS doctor can communicate with the Medical Chest Custodian at William Creek to authorise supply of secure first-aid and medical items, if required.
Call 1800 733 772 or present at the William Creek 24/7 Emergency Clinic (next to the William Creek airstrip).
