Skip to content
Practical Skills

Calling 000: What to Say and When

Ages 8–12 20 min read Beginner

Knowing when and how to call 000 is one of the most important skills any person can have. The operator will guide you through what to do — but you need to give them the right information quickly and clearly.

When to Call 000

Call 000 for:

  • Any life-threatening situation
  • Unconsciousness
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Severe bleeding
  • Chest pain (possible heart attack)
  • Stroke symptoms (face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty)
  • Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
  • Serious burns
  • Near drowning
  • Fire
  • Crime in progress

If in doubt, call. The operator will help you decide if an ambulance is needed. You will never get in trouble for calling in good faith.

What the Operator Will Ask

  1. "Emergency — police, fire, or ambulance?" State which service you need.
  2. "What is the address of the emergency?" Be as specific as possible. Street address, intersection, or landmarks.
  3. "What is happening?" Describe the situation briefly and clearly.
  4. "Is the person conscious/breathing?" Check and report.
  5. "What is your name and number?" In case they need to call you back.

Tips for Calling 000

  • Stay calm. Speak clearly and slowly.
  • Stay on the line. Don't hang up until the operator tells you to.
  • Put on speaker. So you can follow instructions while helping.
  • From a mobile: 000 works even without credit or a SIM card.
  • Locked phone: You can dial 000 from any locked phone via the "Emergency" option.
  • If you can't speak: Call 000 and press 55 when prompted — this connects to police silently.

Other Emergency Numbers

  • 112: International emergency number — works from any mobile in Australia and connects to 000
  • 13 11 14: Lifeline (mental health crisis)
  • 1800 737 732: 1800RESPECT (family violence)
  • Poisons Information: 13 11 26

Tonight's Question

"Does everyone in the family — including the youngest — know how to call 000? Can they state our home address clearly?"

Practise with young children until they can do it confidently.

Emergency Practice

  1. Role-play a 000 call. One person is the caller, another is the operator.
  2. Practise giving: the address, what happened, and the person's condition.
  3. Test: can everyone state the home address from memory?
  4. Show young children how to dial 000 from a locked phone.
  5. Put emergency numbers on the fridge where everyone can see them.
  6. Discuss: what emergencies could happen at home? What would each person do?

Go Further

  • Website: Triple Zero Awareness (triplezero.gov.au) — official information about the 000 service.
  • Research: How does the 000 system locate mobile callers? (Answer: cell tower triangulation and, increasingly, GPS.)
  • Question: Should children be taught to call 000 as early as possible? At what age?
  • App: Emergency+ app (free, by Australian government) — gives your GPS coordinates to help emergency services find you.

What We Simplified

  • 000 operators handle millions of calls. Around 30% are non-emergencies. Using 000 appropriately helps ensure emergency resources are available for those who truly need them.
  • Response times vary. In remote Australia, ambulance response can take much longer than in cities. First aid skills become even more critical.
  • Not all emergencies require 000. For non-life-threatening medical issues, consider health direct (1800 022 222) or your GP.

Sources

  • Triple Zero Awareness. triplezero.gov.au
  • Emergency+ App. Australian Government.
  • St John Ambulance. "When to Call an Ambulance." St John

Want to track progress and save lessons?

Create a free family account. No credit card, no catch — just a place to keep track of what your family is learning.

Create Free Account