Intermediate · B1 / B2 · Health

In an Emergency

Your goal: call for help, describe an emergency calmly, and give clear location and symptom information.

1

Survival Phrases

Calling for help

  • I need an ambulance — someone's collapsed.
  • There's been a serious accident on Bridge Street.
  • Is this the right number for a medical emergency?

Describing the person

  • He's conscious but he can't move his arm.
  • She's breathing, but she's very pale and confused.
  • He's had a seizure and he's not fully responsive.

Location

  • We're on the corner of Bridge Street and Park Lane, by the blue pharmacy.
  • The postcode is EC1 4AA — I don't know the exact number.

Staying calm

  • I'm going to stay with him until the ambulance comes.
  • Is there anything I can do while I wait?
2

Model Dialogue

Read the dialogue aloud twice — once for each speaker. Notice how B picks up A's words and adds something.

Operator: Which service — ambulance, police, or fire?

Marina: Ambulance, please. A man's collapsed at the bus stop on Bridge Street.

Operator: Is he breathing?

Marina: Yes, breathing, but he's very pale and not responding to me properly.

Operator: OK. What's the exact location?

Marina: Corner of Bridge Street and Park Lane — by the blue pharmacy. There's a big sign.

Operator: Help's on the way. Is he conscious?

Marina: Barely — he opens his eyes but he's confused. I'll stay with him.

Operator: Good. Stay on the line. Is he on any medication you can see?

Marina: There's a box in his bag — looks like heart tablets. I'll keep it for the crew.

3

Register: formal vs informal

SituationMore formalMore informal / natural
ReportingI need an ambulance — someone has collapsed and isn't responding.Need an ambulance — a man's collapsed.
DescribingHe's breathing but very pale and not fully responsive.He's breathing but out of it.
LocatingWe're on the corner of Bridge Street and Park Lane, by the blue pharmacy.Bridge Street, near the blue chemist.
ReassuringI'll stay with him until the ambulance arrives.I'll stay with him.
At B1/B2 the line between formal and informal is often tone and softeners (just, a bit, possibly), not different words. Soften requests when the stakes are higher.
4

Typical Mistakes (B1/B2 & Portuguese interference)

  • He passed out. → He's collapsed. / He's unconscious. ((emergência: use collapsed/unconscious))
  • He is not responding me. → He's not responding to me. ((respond to))
  • Come fast! → Help is on the way — stay calm. ((frases claras, não 'come fast'))
  • He has a box of tablets. → There's a box of tablets in his bag. ((localize the object))
  • The street is Bridge Street with Park Lane. → It's the corner of Bridge Street and Park Lane. ((corner of X and Y))
  • I will stay until he come. → I'll stay until the ambulance comes. ((present simple após until))
5

Culture Note

  • Stay on the line — dispatchers give step-by-step first aid (CPR, recovery position) while help travels.
  • Location is everything — a landmark ('by the blue pharmacy') beats a number you don't know.
  • In the UK/EU, 112 works everywhere and routes to all services; in the UK 999 also works.
  • Don't hang up to 'go and check' — the operator needs your eyes on the person.
6

Practical Task

  1. Rebuild the dialogue for a fall (someone slipped and can't stand).
  2. Record your part only, calm and precise.
  3. Memorise the location phrase pattern ('corner of X and Y, by the landmark').
  4. Real-life mission: find the emergency number for a country you'd visit.

Before you finish, can you…

  • ☐call for the right service and describe the emergency?
  • ☐answer 'is he breathing / conscious?' clearly?
  • ☐give an exact location with a landmark?
  • ☐agree to stay on the line?
Bring your dialogue — the teacher plays a dispatcher who asks three quick questions in a row.