Nanjing’s medical authorities have near tripled the number of operators handling emergency calls in recent days, while going all out in urging the public not to call and waste precious resources with trivialities.
Calls to the 120 medical emergency hotline in Nanjing began the sharp growth in their numbers on 14 December. By yesterday, the number of calls stood at five times the daily average in normal times.
12月14日起，南京市120医疗急救热线的接听人数开始急剧增长。截至昨天，接听电话数量已是平时日均值的五倍。
In response, the Nanjing First Aid Centre Communication Dispatch Division has increased the number of 120 operators on duty from 11 to 27.
对此，南京急救中心通信调度科已将值班的120名接线员从11人增加到27人。
However, the operators have increasing found themselves to be handling general inquiries rather than medical emergencies.
然而，越来越多的接线员发现自己处理的是一般询问，而不是医疗紧急情况。
In a report published late last night by PSA Nanjing (南京发布), Yan Zhiyong with the Division revealed fully 80 percent of calls received in recent days were made by people seeking answers to non-essential questions. Ambulances were only dispatched in the remaining 20 percent of cases.
在南京PSA昨晚深夜发布的一份报告中，该部门的颜志勇透露，近几天接到的电话中，80%都是寻求非必要问题答案的人拨打的。仅在其余 20% 的病例中出动了救护车。
By and large, the 120 operators have been dealing with four kinds of inquiries:
总的来说，这 120 个接线员一直在处理四种类型的询问：
- COVID-infected persons in a state of panic seeking general consultation;
- Persons wishing to visit hospital taking a 120 “shortcut” to avoid administrative delays;
- Persons diagnosed with COVID looking to not infect those with whom they live;
- Persons repeatedly dialing 120 while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
Authorities wish to stress to the general public that such actions have seriously wasted the 120 hotline’s precious emergency resources. People seeking health consulting can instead dial 12320 to reduce the burden on 120.
有关部门希望向公众强调，这种行为严重浪费了120热线宝贵的应急资源。寻求健康咨询的民众可以拨打12320，以减轻120的负担。
Those who genuinely feel they have an emergency situation and decide to call 120 should keep calm, and briefly and clearly express to the operator the patient’s situation; age, current condition, past medical history, etc.
确有紧急情况决定拨打120的，应保持冷静，向接线员简要清楚地表达患者情况；年龄、现况、既往病史等
Should an ambulance be dispatched, there also should be clearly stated the address of the patient’s residence, while also identifying obvious nearby landmarks.
如果出动救护车，还应明确患者的住所地址，并标明附近明显的地标。
In this efficient manner, precious minutes and seconds may be saved in order that Nanjing’s healthcare system may treat the seriously ill.
通过这种高效的方式，可以为南京医疗系统救治重症患者节省宝贵的时间和时间。
