Whittlesea and Hume residents are being reminded to save triple-0 for emergencies, with the ‘Save Lives, Save 000 for Emergencies’ campaign relaunching to help paramedics respond quicker and save lives.
The successful advertising campaign is back after non-emergency calls to triple-0 increased again in 2021.
More than one-in-five calls to triple-0 for ambulance do not require an emergency ambulance response, which can take paramedics away from time-critical life-threatening emergencies, the state government said.
Demand for ambulances and emergency departments has continued to increase and will continue to increase as we safely reopen.
The campaign aims to reduce the number of non-emergency calls to triple-0 by highlighting the teams of other healthcare professionals who are ready and able to help manage non-urgent health care issues, round-the-clock. These include GPs, pharmacists and NURSE-ON-CALL (1300 60 60 24).
The campaign has provided Victorians with a better understanding of when to call an ambulance – with the previous campaign run helping to reduce the average number of daily calls to triple-0 by 10 per cent, the state government said.
Health Minister Martin Foley said: “Our hardworking ambos are doing an incredible job of responding to record levels of community demand. By saving triple-0 for emergencies, we can help ensure our ambulances are available for those who need it most.
“Victorians are lucky to have so much choice when it comes to healthcare – so we encourage everyone to explore their options most suitable to their needs, whether it’s experienced GPs, pharmacists or registered nurses.”
