Getting Help in the Community
FoundationStay calm in emergencies and call 999, telling what happened, where, and who you are; keep the environment clean — everyone's duty.
- In an emergency: stay calm, keep safe, call for help at once.
- Remember 999 — state what happened, where, and your name.
- Do not crowd or hinder; cooperate with rescuers.
文體小知識：說明文把一件事講得清清楚楚。這一篇教你遇到火警、有人暈倒等著急事故時怎樣求助，以及做個保持環境衞生的盡責小市民。
§Text Passage
1In community life we sometimes meet emergencies: a building fire, someone hurt or collapsed, a gas leak or a traffic accident. Never panic and never crowd around to watch; be a calm little helper — tell an adult nearby at once, or call the emergency number 999. Learn the ways to ask for help beforehand, and you will not be flustered when it happens.
2When calling 999, make three things clear: what has happened (a fire, someone collapsed); the exact place (which street, which building, which floor); and your name and contact number. Speak clearly, follow the operator's instructions and do not hang up in a hurry. Clear information brings the fire engines and ambulances quickly.
3Different emergencies go to different services: fires to the Fire Services Department, injuries need an ambulance, crimes go to the police — and 999 connects to them all. Know the ways to seek help in the community too: the building management office, library staff and mall service counters can all help; remember your parents' phone numbers, and if lost, look for a uniformed officer.
4Keeping the environment clean is every citizen's duty: put rubbish in the bin, do not spit anywhere, cover coughs and sneezes, and pick up litter you see. Piles of rubbish breed mosquitoes and spread disease. When everyone keeps the environment clean, the community is hygienic, germs are fewer, and everyone's health is protected. Be a responsible citizen, starting with small things.
1Summary 重點摘要
Stay calm in emergencies and call 999, telling what happened, where, and who you are; keep the environment clean — everyone's duty.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
A dangerous event needing immediate action, such as a fire.
Hong Kong's emergency number is 999, free to call.
The alarm of a fire; escape calmly and call for help.
A vehicle carrying the sick or hurt to hospital; call one for injuries.
The staff who answer emergency calls; follow their instructions.
Keeping places and streets clean to stop the spread of disease.
What we ought to do, such as keeping clean and following rules.
Not panicking; thinking clearly before acting.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: Know what an emergency isWhat is an emergency? An event that endangers life or property and needs action at once, such as a fire, someone badly hurt or collapsed, a gas leak, flooding or a traffic accident. In an emergency remember three principles: first, stay calm — panic only spoils your judgement; second, keep yourself safe and do not play the hero; third, tell an adult nearby at once or call 999. Practise once with your parents beforehand, and you will not be flustered when it really happens.
- Step 2: Remember the number 999Hong Kong's emergency number is 999 — free to call and answered around the clock: fires go to the fire services, illness and injury bring an ambulance, crimes go to the police, all through one number. Besides mobile phones, emergency phones stand on streets and roadsides. Learn 999 and your parents' numbers by heart and write them where all can see; memorise your address too, such as Flat 3, 8/F, Happy Building, Happy Village, because the exact place must be given when asking for help. And remember: 999 is for emergencies only, never for fun.
- Step 3: Learn to state three things clearlyWhen you call 999 the operator asks questions; state three things calmly and clearly. First, what has happened: There is a fire here, or An old man has collapsed. Second, the exact place: street, number, building name, and if possible a well-known landmark nearby. Third, your name and contact number. Do not hang up in a hurry; follow the operator's instructions. Clear words bring ambulances and fire engines as fast as possible, and in a rescue every second counts.
- Step 4: Cooperate with rescuers, never hinderWhen rescuers arrive, be a little helper who adds no trouble: clear the way, do not crowd around or chase to film, because every second matters to lives; when adults evacuate, stay close to your family and take the stairs, not the lift; if hurt or frightened, tell a uniformed officer. Never move an injured person by yourself — it may worsen the injury; leave it to the paramedics. Afterwards think about whether you did right, and next time you will be calmer still. A calm little citizen is a little hero of the community.
- Step 5: Keep the environment cleanEnvironmental hygiene is tied to health: piled rubbish breeds mosquitoes, flies and rats and spreads disease. Keep clean through small acts: sort rubbish into bins and recycling boxes; never spit on the ground; cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow; wrap leftover food before throwing it away; pick up litter you see and put it in the bin; clean the home regularly and bag the rubbish properly. When everyone does their bit, the community stays clean and tidy, germs decrease, and we all enjoy better health.
- Step 6: Be a responsible little citizenWe hold different roles in society: a child at home, a pupil at school, a citizen in the community — each role has its duties. A citizen's duties include obeying the law and rules, keeping the environment clean, caring for public property and living in harmony with neighbours; staying calm and calling for help in emergencies without crowding or spreading rumours; lending a hand where safe when someone needs it. Duty is not a burden but the beginning of trust. Do your small duties well from young, and you will shoulder greater missions when you grow.
5Worked example Example
Example: While shopping with Mummy, you see an old man suddenly collapse on the ground. What should you do?
- Stay calm; do not crowd or push — tell Mummy or a nearby adult at once.
- Ask an adult to call 999 for an ambulance; if you call, state clearly that a man has collapsed, the street and building, and your own name.
- Follow the operator's instructions and stay on the line; do not move the old man, or the injury may worsen.
- Clear the way when the paramedics arrive, then tell your family what happened — staying calm and asking for help was well done.
- Answer: I would stay calm, tell an adult at once and help call 999, clearly stating that a man has collapsed, the exact place and my name; I would follow the operator, not move the injured man, and clear the way for the ambulance. A primary pupil need not rescue by himself — calmly calling for help is the best help of all.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What is Hong Kong's emergency number?
Q2What must you make clear when calling 999?
Q3Which service do we call in a fire?
Q4May we call 999 for fun?
Q5Where should rubbish go?
8Recap Recap
- In an emergency: stay calm, keep safe, call for help at once.
- Remember 999 — state what happened, where, and your name.
- Do not crowd or hinder; cooperate with rescuers.
- Bin your rubbish, never spit; keep the environment clean.
- Every role has duties — be a responsible little citizen.