General English Level 5 V 3
UNIT 03 Be careful! TOPIC 01 Oh no, she's been hurt!
LANGUAGE FOCUS 04 Making an emergency call
In this activity we will look at how to make a call to Emergency Services.
Mathew says:
Mathew:
We should phone the police and ambulance first.

The police and ambulance are emergency services. The fire brigade is another emergency service. In most countries there is a special telephone number for these services.



police ambulance fire brigade

1. What service?

Mathew and the operator say:
Operator 1:
Emergency Services. May I help you?
Mathew:
Police, please.

Often when we call Emergency Services we have to say what service we want - police, ambulance or fire brigade.

2. What happened?

Mathew and the operator say:
Operator 2:
Police Service. May I help you?
Mathew:
Hello? A woman's been attacked!
When Mathew gets the service he wants, he first says what has happened: " A woman's been attacked!" We usually start by giving information about what has happened.

3. What is the current situation?

Mathew and the operator say:
Operator 2:
OK. Has she been injured?
Mathew:
Umm, I think so. She's lying on the ground and she isn't moving. I think she's hit her head.
Operator 2: OK. And is her attacker still at the scene?
Mathew: No, he has run off . He stole her bag.

Next the operator asks Mathew what is happening at the time of the call:, "Has she been injured?" "Is her attacker still at the scene?" . After we say what has happened, it is important to give information about what is happening at the time of the call - the current situation.

4. Where?

Mathew and the operator say:
Operator 2:
OK. Can you give me the location ?
Mathew:
Yes, it's Steel Park, Epping. It's on the corner of Livingstone and Jacob Streets.

Mathew tells the operator where the woman is.

We need to say where the emergency is. It helps the Emergency Services if you say the nearest landmark ; for example, a street corner, a river, a supermarket.

5. Your personal details.

Mathew and the operator say:
Operator 2:
Right. And can I have your name, please?
Mathew:
Yes, it's Mathew Barker, B-A-R-K-E-R.
Operator 2: OK. And your address, please?
Mathew: It's Unit 5/ 386 Livingstone Road, Epping.

Mathew gives the operator his personal details - his full name and address.

The operator will ask you for your personal details. You do not have to give this information, but it might help the emergency service.

The most important thing to remember when you call Emergency Services is to stay calm and speak CLEARLY.

Examples

1 Read the examples.
2 Listen to the examples.
3 Practise saying each example. Use the Pause button.
John calls the fire brigade.
Operator 1:
Emergency Services. May I help you?
John:
Fire Brigade, please.
Operator 2: Fire Brigade. May I help you?
John: Yes, there's a house on fire.
Operator 2: Right. Do you know if anyone's in the house?
John: No, I don't know. I don't think so.
Operator 2: OK. Can you tell me the location of the house?
John: It's Elm Street - I'm not sure about the number, but it's opposite a school. The nearest corner is Burnie Street.
Operator 2: OK. Can I have your name and address, please?
John: Yes, it's John …

Sarah calls the ambulance.
Operator 1:
Emergency Services.
Sarah:
Ambulance, please.
Operator 2: Ambulance. May I help you?
Sarah: Yes, there's been a car accident.
Operator 2: OK. Is anybody injured?
Sarah: Yes, two women, in one of the cars.
Operator 2: OK. Are the women still in the car?
Sarah: Yes. They can't get out.
Operator 2: Right. Can you give me the location of the accident?
Sarah: Pine Street, Campsie. It's near the corner of Chester Road.
Operator 2: OK. Can I have your name and address, please?
Sarah: It's Sarah …

Now go to 05 LANGUAGE FOCUS The passive - present perfect.