Preparing for Emergencies in ShanghaiDr. Leslie BottrellFamily Physician

Shanghai United Family Hospital

Preparation is never wasted

Visit emergency facilities near you. Check on your insurance – what does it

cover? Do you need extra coverage for evacuations?

Make sure spouse and ayi* know CPR and choking first aid.

Together with a friend, make an emergency plan.

Regularly update this plan.

Assembling an emergency kit

Enter important numbers on your phone at the top of address book.

Fill out emergency contact sheet. Let contacts know your expectations.

Copy necessary documents –- passports, insurance cards, etc. -- and place in a clear plastic envelope.

Make two of these envelopes and keep in different places, such as at home and in car.

Ensure you have access to emergency funds.

EMERGENCY FUNDS

Always keep 120 RMB cash in your wallet to pay for an ambulance.

Set aside 20,000 RMB for medical emergencies, on a bank card that is either kept at home or held by the spouse who does not travel.

Make sure visitors check on their insurance coverage before coming, and that they buy travel insurance if not covered overseas.

KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT

Understand what type of help you may get – or not get -- from local bystanders.

Understand the strengths and weaknesses of the local ambulance service.

Ambulances in Shanghai Dispatchers may speak some limited

English. Official response time is 10 minutes, but varies widely.

Ambulances do not carry much beyond the basics –- oxygen, morphine, IV fluids, etc.

If victim may have a spinal cord injury, you must ask them to bring a backboard.

Training level is not the same as in the west. Ambulance workers will attempt to pick up victim by arms and legs.

Always keep 120 RMB cash in your wallet to pay for an ambulance.

CALL 120 If the patient is unable to walk and too

large to be carried easily. If you suspect a spinal cord injury or

head injury. If you suspect a heart attack in an adult. If you are doing CPR and need a crew to

take over from you in order to move the patient to a hospital.

医院yīyuàn

HOSPITAL

EMERGENCY

急诊ji2 zhen3

9

ED Options in Shanghai

ER Options in Shanghai

Local Hospital ER

Foreign &Walk-in Clinics

SHU ER

Organization Government Private Private

Standard of Care Chinese International International

Direct Billing No > Yes Yes Yes

English Minimal Fluent Fluent

Physicians Local specialists,

heavy patient loads

International general

practitioners

International emergency-trained MD

Facilities Clean? Lack of privacy

Clean Clean

Inpatient Children? No Children All ages

Cost $ $$ $$

Clean ? + +

Shanghai United FamilyEmergency Department

Open 24/7 JCI (Joint Commission International) quality accreditation ER physicians and ER qualified nursesStaff speaks EnglishOffers free translation service in 40 languages

Pudong options include:

Shanghai Children’s Medical Center

SEIMC (Shanghai East International Medical Center)

Children’s Medical Center

This (along with Fudan) is one of the top two children’s hospitals in Shanghai. It has specialists in many fields and some advanced equipment.

Other Puxi Options

Xin Hua Hospital24/7 Paediatric Emergeny

15

CMC Special Service ClinicThe staff and many specialists here

speak English (call 5839-5238 for appointments). This clinic does not handle emergencies, but their staff may be able to assist you in navigating the rest of the hospital.

SEIMC International Clinic• Side entrance, not open

at night. Call ahead in an emergency.

• Has resources of adjoining public hospital (Shanghai East), but no pediatricians at night.

• Call ahead in an emergency: 5879-9999 or 150-0019-0899.

Why you must go yourself

To get used to local hospital conditions. “Trading pit” atmosphere at the triage desk can be overwhelming the first time you see it.

For your driver / other household members to learn where hospital and entrances are.

To know whether you need to keep looking for something better.

To help you make the decision where to go in a true emergency.

Signage may be confusing. Elevator access may be restricted. (Ruijin Hospital)

Getting started

Don’t worry about making appointments for visits. It’s nearly impossible to do, and irrelevant once you’re there.

Enlist a Chinese-speaking friend to go with you.

Carry the map of hospitals with you and plan to stop in to see one or two when you’re in the neighbourhood next.

Wear a Helmet when Riding!

Numbers to Know

120 = AMBULANCE119 = FIRE

110 = POLICEBABY120 App

Numbers to Know

Shanghai Help Line (free translation line run by city): 962288

China Help Line (paid translation service but every phone can make 3 free calls): 4008808080

Shanghai United Family Hospital Emergencies: 2216-3999

Raffles 24-hour free doctor advice line: 6197-2300

SEIMC 24-hour number: 5879-9999.

Parkway 24-hour appointment line: 6445-599924

Thank You!leslie.bottrell@ufh.com.cn

26