What to do and Who to call during an emergency in Singapore

Emergency in Singapore right now? Call 995 for a life-threatening medical emergency or fire; call 999 for immediate police assistance. Tell the operator where you are, what happened, and whether people are injured. If an immediate danger exists, make the call now instead of reading the rest of this guide.

This Singapore emergency contacts and action guide is organised for people who need the answer in seconds, followed by practical explanations for residents, visitors, parents, seniors and people assisting a stranger. It is information for Singapore, not a universal emergency-number list. Verified against official sources on 2 November 2026.

Quick answer: who to call in Singapore

995 — Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF): fire, rescue and emergency ambulance for life-threatening medical incidents.
999 — Singapore Police Force: immediate police assistance for violence, threats, crimes in progress or serious danger.
70999 — emergency SMS to Police: when you need immediate police assistance and it is not safe to talk.
70995 — emergency SMS to SCDF: specifically for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech impairment and need fire or emergency ambulance assistance.
1777 — non-emergency ambulance arrangements: the current hotline in November 2026, but it ceases on 1 January 2027; do not use it for life-threatening emergencies.
6262 6262 — NurseFirst: nurse-led advice for non-emergency medical concerns; also important after the 1777 hotline ceases.
1800 255 0000 — Police Hotline: information and non-urgent police enquiries; do not substitute this for 999 when someone is in immediate danger.

These are different routes because a medical collapse, a fire and a violent attack may require different first responders. Official contacts: gov.sg emergency directory, SCDF emergency medical services and Singapore Police Force contacts.

First 60 seconds: what to do before anything else

Stop and check the danger. Smoke, traffic, live electricity, unstable structures, floodwater or violence can make the scene unsafe for a rescuer too. Move yourself to safety if possible.
Choose the right emergency number. For immediate fire, rescue or life-threatening medical care, call 995. For an immediate police emergency, call 999. If you are unsure of the exact service, describe the danger honestly to the operator.
Give a usable location first. Say the block number, street, building, floor, unit or nearby entrance. In a mall or MRT station, name the station, exit or landmark; never assume your phone location alone is sufficient.
Say what happened and how many people are involved. For example: ‘One man collapsed, not responding; lobby of Block 123, [street], next to lift A’. Answer questions one at a time.
Follow dispatcher instructions. Put the phone on speaker if useful, begin first aid only as instructed or within your training, and ask someone else to bring the nearest AED if relevant.
Make the route to help clear. Ask another person to meet emergency crews at the lift lobby or entrance if it is safe. Keep pathways open and tell responders when the person’s condition changes.
Inform family after emergency services have been contacted. Do not delay the call to seek permission, take pictures or post an update.

A complete address often matters more than a perfect medical explanation. Emergency workers need to get to the correct entrance, floor and person; useful facts beat speculation.

Which number should you choose? Real Singapore situations

Someone collapses at home, at work or in a shopping centre

If a person is unresponsive, not breathing normally, has severe breathing difficulty, appears to be having a stroke or has serious bleeding, call 995. Ask nearby people to locate an AED. The 995 medical dispatcher can give CPR instructions; follow them. If an unconscious person is breathing normally, monitor them and follow the dispatcher’s advice. Avoid giving food or drink to someone who is not fully alert.

A useful example: ‘Ambulance needed. A woman has collapsed at the [building] lobby, [address], ground floor, next to the security counter. She is not responding. My phone number is [number].’ The SCDF’s emergency medical service guidance describes life-threatening symptoms and the emergency call pathway.

A fire starts in an HDB flat, high-rise or workplace

Get people away from immediate danger, alert others, call 995 and activate the fire alarm where appropriate. Do not attempt to fight a growing fire. Use designated escape stairs rather than ordinary lifts during a fire, and follow building evacuation instructions. Close doors behind you if safe to slow smoke spread. If smoke or fire blocks your escape, move away from the hazard, close yourself into a safer area if possible, tell 995 your exact location and follow instructions. Do not return inside to retrieve possessions.

In very tall residential buildings, the escape route may involve a designated refuge floor or holding area, depending on the building. Follow SCDF’s current 2026 civil defence emergency handbook and the building’s posted instructions rather than guessing that every lift or stairwell is safe.

There is an assault, robbery, threat or someone behaving violently

Move to safety without confronting the person, then call 999. Give your location, what you can actually see, whether weapons appear to be involved and the direction of travel if the person has left. Do not put yourself or others at risk to take video. When speaking would expose you to danger, the Police’s emergency SMS number is 70999; state the nature of danger and location as clearly as possible.

A sudden flash flood blocks the road

Turn back and move to higher ground. Avoid entering floodwater on foot or driving into flooded sections, especially where the depth, road markings or drains cannot be seen. Follow PUB flood alerts and official directions. If anyone is trapped or lives are immediately in danger, contact emergency services; do not attempt a hazardous rescue on your own. PUB’s flood safety tips give detailed advice for pedestrians and motorists.

A scammer is calling, but nobody is in immediate physical danger

This is usually not a 999 incident. Stop communicating with the suspected scammer, contact the bank promptly if accounts or payments may be affected, and use the Singapore Police’s official scam-reporting guidance. For scam assistance, the Police list the ScamShield Helpline 1799. If threats or immediate physical danger arise, use 999. A more detailed related guide is Getting Help in Singapore: Report a Scam and Protect Your Money.

How to give an emergency operator the information that matters

A short, structured report reduces confusion. Say location → type of incident → people affected → immediate danger → caller contact. If you do not know a detail, say ‘I don’t know’ instead of inventing it. If the emergency is in a condominium, factory, hotel or hospital, name the gate or entrance that responders should use.

Location: ‘[Street address], Block [number], level [floor], unit [unit], near [landmark or entrance].’
Incident: ‘Someone has collapsed / a room is on fire / a person is threatening others.’
Condition: ‘One person is unconscious / two people have injuries / flames are spreading.’
Access: ‘Use the [gate or entrance]; someone will meet you at [place].’
Callback: ‘My number is [number]. I will remain on the line.’

The dispatcher may ask repeated or specific questions. Keep answering. Do not hang up until instructed, unless staying connected itself creates an immediate danger; tell the operator if you must move.

What to do while waiting for an ambulance, fire crew or police

Medical emergency: remain with the person if safe, monitor breathing and responsiveness, use an AED and perform CPR according to training and dispatcher guidance. Avoid unnecessary movement after a serious injury.
Severe bleeding: use direct firm pressure with a clean cloth or dressing if safe, and follow the medical dispatcher’s instructions. Do not remove deeply embedded objects.
Fire or smoke: stay outside once evacuated. If trapped, communicate your precise location to 995 and follow advice.
Violence or weapons: get out of sight and away from harm; do not return to the area for belongings or filming.
Children: explain simply that help is coming; keep them with a safe adult and share their needs with responders.
Older people or people with disabilities: report mobility, communication, medication or oxygen needs without delaying the emergency call.

Help should be practical, not heroic. Preventing a second casualty is an important part of helping the first.

If you cannot speak or need accessible emergency contact

Police: text 70999 when immediate police assistance is required and speaking is unsafe. SCDF: 70995 is specifically an emergency SMS service for the deaf, hard-of-hearing and speech-impaired community; messages should include the incident, exact location and whether fire or ambulance help is needed. These are different numbers for different services. They are not a general replacement for voice calls by everyone.

Where available, plan accessible contact methods before an emergency, and tell neighbours, colleagues or caregivers how to locate and assist you without putting themselves at risk. See SCDF’s 70995 instructions and Police 70999 guidance.

Urgent medical care is not the same as emergency ambulance transport

A cough, toothache or mild illness is not automatically a 995 emergency. A GP, clinic, teleconsultation or other appropriate service may be the right next step for non-life-threatening concerns. If symptoms worsen dramatically, someone loses consciousness, there is major injury or severe breathing difficulty, make the emergency call.

Important change: as at November 2026, 1777 is still listed for non-emergency ambulance referral, but SCDF will end it on 1 January 2027. The Ministry of Health directs people who need non-emergency transport to its private ambulance operator list and people who need non-emergency medical guidance to NurseFirst 6262 6262. Save this guide with that transition in mind; do not assume an old refrigerator magnet stays correct forever. Source: MOH announcement, 1 July 2026.

A practical emergency plan for a Singapore household

In an HDB flat or condominium, four details can prevent wasted minutes: the exact postal address, the quickest safe route downstairs, a fallback if lifts are unavailable, and who can help an elderly or disabled resident. Write the building block, unit, nearby landmark and emergency contacts on paper, not only in a phone.

At home: agree where to meet outside during a fire. Point out the staircase and alternatives, and do not use lifts during a fire unless firefighters instruct you.
At school or childcare: know the school’s emergency contact procedure; if you personally witness a life-threatening incident, call emergency services first.
At work: know who is trained in first aid, where the AED is kept and how to describe the site’s emergency entrance.
On trains or buses: alert transport staff using available help points or emergency communication equipment while seeking safety; call 995 or 999 for a real external emergency.
In a storm or flood: check PUB alerts, change route early and do not cross floodwater to keep an appointment.
After an incident: follow official clearances before re-entering, document damage only when safe, and tell family that you are accounted for.

Common mistakes that delay help

Calling a friend to debate whether the emergency is serious before notifying responders.
Giving only a district name, such as ‘Jurong’ or ‘Tampines’, instead of a precise block or entrance.
Taking pictures or posting on social media while a person’s condition is deteriorating.
Using 995 for routine transport, which can delay responses for life-threatening cases.
Mixing up 70999 (Police emergency SMS) with 70995 (SCDF accessible emergency SMS).
Using a lift during a fire or returning into smoke to fetch belongings.
Repeating rumours as facts, especially when reporting a security incident.

Frequently asked questions about emergencies in Singapore

Is 999 or 995 the ambulance number?

995 is the SCDF emergency ambulance and fire number. 999 is for immediate police assistance. Choose based on what is happening, and explain if multiple services may be needed.

Can I call 995 if I am not certain what is wrong medically?

If someone has symptoms that reasonably suggest immediate danger to life, call 995 and describe the signs rather than attempting your own diagnosis. An emergency operator assesses the situation and advises what to do. Non-life-threatening concerns can use appropriate medical advice routes.

Should I call 999 for a suspicious message or a bank scam?

Use the bank and official scam-reporting pathways for a suspected scam unless there is an immediate threat to personal safety or an urgent police emergency. The Police list 1799 for ScamShield assistance.

Will 1777 work in 2027?

The Ministry of Health has announced that the hotline will cease from 1 January 2027. Check the Ministry’s non-emergency private ambulance directory or NurseFirst advice as appropriate. 995 remains the emergency ambulance number.

How do I help a stranger without becoming another casualty?

Assess the scene for traffic, smoke, live electricity, weapons and unstable structures. Call the proper service, follow dispatcher guidance, and provide appropriate aid within your ability. Staying at a safe location to guide emergency crews may be more valuable than moving into danger.

Official Singapore sources and next useful guides

Editorial scope: This is a general public guide and cannot replace an emergency operator, current government instructions or clinical care. Numbers were checked on 2 November 2026; services and processes may change. For an active emergency, call the service rather than relying on any webpage.