Kuching emergency help: what to do first

If there is an immediate danger to life, call 999 first. Give the operator your exact location, what happened and a callback number.

For a fire, leave the building if it is safe to do so and do not return for belongings. For a medical emergency, keep the person comfortable, avoid moving them unless there is immediate danger, and follow the operator's instructions.

For a burst pipe, power issue, lockout or vehicle breakdown, use the relevant service contact after the immediate risk is under control. Keep photos, your address and vehicle details ready to help the responder find you.

Before calling a local service, note the exact Kuching address, a safe landmark, when the incident started, whether anyone is injured and a number that can be called back. Give observed facts rather than guesses. Do not wait for a quote, a provider reply or a map search when there is an immediate threat to life or public safety: call 999 first.

Once the scene is safe, save the reference number, time of contact, photographs taken from a safe position and any written quotation or receipt. The local contact cards below can help with follow-up from hospitals, police, fire, civil-defence, utility or roadside providers, but they do not replace the emergency system. Verify the provider's scope and any charge before authorising non-emergency work.