Call 995 for a life-threatening medical emergency. If a child is unresponsive, has severe trouble breathing or is seriously injured, give your exact location and describe what you see. Follow the SCDF operator’s instructions. If you are at a school, mall or sports centre, ask someone else to alert staff and meet responders if possible. SCDF emergency medical services
For a child with a mild or moderate non-emergency condition, a GP or polyclinic can assess the child and advise on further care. KKH’s online Urgent Paediatric Advice Line, U-PAL, offers guidance on common childhood conditions. MOH also lists NurseFirst at 6262 6262 for non-emergency medical advice. MOH GPFirst · KKH U-PAL · MOH on NurseFirst and the 1777 change
- Life-threatening emergency → call 995.
- Signs of a medical emergency → seek immediate emergency care.
- Stable and unsure about non-emergency care → contact a GP or an appropriate advice service.
On this page · Decide Where to Get Help · What Happens at Children’s A&E · When the Child Is at School or With Another Adult · Frequently Asked Questions
Decide Where to Get Help
MOH describes a medical emergency as a sudden illness requiring immediate attention. SCDF gives examples including loss of consciousness, breathing difficulty and major trauma. Tell the dispatcher what has changed, how the child is responding and where you are. A parent can describe what they see without trying to name the condition. MOH emergency department guidance · SCDF emergency medical services
What to say on a call
“My child is [age]. We are at [address and exact location]. This started at about [time]. They are [describe breathing and responsiveness].” Add any major injury or known exposure. If the incident is inside a complex, give the entrance, block or court number and say whether staff are there.
When a GP is a starting point
MOH’s GPFirst programme encourages people with mild or moderate non-emergency conditions to start with a GP. The GP can assess whether a hospital referral is needed. If a child’s condition becomes serious while you are waiting, seek emergency help promptly. MOH GPFirst
What Happens at Children’s A&E
At KKH Children’s Emergency, a nurse assesses the child on arrival and prioritises according to clinical urgency. A child who arrives later may be seen sooner because they need immediate attention. Tell staff promptly if breathing, alertness or other symptoms change while you are waiting. KKH Children’s Emergency guidance
Information to bring if it is to hand
- The child’s age and the time symptoms started.
- Relevant medication, allergies and existing conditions.
- Any treatment already given, including the time and dose if known.
- A description of an injury or exposure, including how it happened.
Keep these details in a caregiver note if they are relevant to your child. In an emergency, call for help first even if the list or documents are elsewhere.
When the Child Is at School or With Another Adult
Ask the adult on the scene to describe the child’s current condition and confirm what help has been called. Give them any relevant information about the child’s care plan through an appropriate channel. Agree who will meet the child and where. If the school or emergency team is already acting, let them direct the handover.
Leave the family a clear handover
A short message could say, “The school called for help at [time]. I’m going to [confirmed location]. Please bring the medication list if you have it.” Keep later updates in the same conversation so caregivers can see the latest confirmed location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is U-PAL the same as calling an ambulance?
Use U-PAL for guidance on common childhood conditions. For a life-threatening emergency, call 995. KKH U-PAL · SCDF emergency medical services
What happens to 1777?
MOH says the non-emergency ambulance referral hotline ceases on 1 January 2027. MOH lists private ambulance providers for planned non-emergency transport. 995 remains the emergency number. MOH on NurseFirst and the 1777 change
Can I choose based on a symptom checklist alone?
If you are concerned about a stable child and unsure where to go, speak to a clinician or an appropriate non-emergency advice service. Seek immediate help if the child develops emergency signs. MOH emergency department guidance
Continue With the Singapore Emergency Playbook
- Missing Child in Singapore | What Parents Should Do at a Mall, Station or School Pickup
- Drowning Emergency in Singapore | What to Do at a Pool, Beach or Waterfront
- Lost Passport in Singapore or Overseas | What to Do Before Your Next Flight
- Emergency Numbers in Singapore
- School Emergency in Singapore
Official guidance checked 8 November 2026.