This article is for general awareness and is not medical advice or a substitute for assessment by a qualified doctor. In an emergency in the Kingdom, call 997 immediately.
997: Saudi Red Crescent for emergencies
Call 997 immediately when a life or a limb is at risk, and do not wait for another opinion. Examples include:
- Chest pain or pressure, especially with sweating or shortness of breath.
- Signs of a stroke: a drooping face, weakness in an arm or leg, sudden difficulty speaking.
- Severe shortness of breath or choking.
- Loss of consciousness or seizures.
- Heavy bleeding that will not stop, or a serious injury after an accident.
- A severe allergic reaction with swelling of the face or throat.
With signs of a stroke, time is brain: note when the symptoms started and tell the paramedic.
937: the Ministry of Health call centre
937 is for non-urgent health advice and enquiries, such as mild symptoms that need guidance, questions about medicines, appointments, or knowing where to go. If you feel the condition is getting worse during the call, hang up and call 997.
Prepare before you need it
- Save 997 and 937 on your phone and on your family members' phones, especially older relatives.
- Keep a paper or a phone note listing chronic conditions, current medicines, allergies and blood type.
- Agree on an emergency contact that everyone knows.
- Know the nearest emergency department to your home and workplace.
- When you call: give your exact location, describe the situation calmly, and do not hang up until you are told to.
Where does HealTrip fit in?
HealTrip is building SOS emergency coordination andFamily profile services to help you organize this information in advance, so that it complements 997 and never replaces it.
Be among the first to join HealTrip
HealTrip is a Saudi health platform preparing to launch. Register your interest as a patient, doctor or healthcare facility, and we will contact you at launch.
Register interestContact on WhatsApp