About SMS 70995

The SCDF has introduced the Emergency Short Messaging Service (SMS) function as part of its overall 995 emergency call taking capability. The number designated for SCDF’s Emergency SMS is 70995. This service is specially catered for people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing and speech impairment (DHS). Members of the DHS community can use a mobile phone to send an SMS to SCDF during emergencies such as a fire and/ or a medical condition requiring an SCDF emergency ambulance to convey them immediately to hospital.

How do I use the service?

Send a brief SMS message to 70995 containing information on:

• the nature of emergency (e.g. what has happened or is happening);
• the location where it is happening (address or prominent landmark); and
• the type of help required (fire embulance/ambulance).

Contacting SCDF through SMS

When sending an emergency SMS to SCDF, DHS members are required to text the following information in their message:

• Which Service is Required (Fire Engine or Ambulance);
• Address/ Incident Location (Be descriptive, include landmarks); and
• Nature of emergency (Fire, someone is trapped in the house, experiencing chest pains).

A typical emergency SMS message would be as follows:

• For Fire:- 

Fire Engine. Blk 889 Tampines St 81 #[Unit Number.] or Postal Code, #[Unit Number]. My neighbour’s room is on fire.

• For Ambulance:- 

Ambulance. Blk 889 Tampines St 81, #[Unit Number] or Postal Code, #[Unit Number]. My mother has fainted.

When an emergency SMS is received from a registered DHS user, SCDF will send out an auto-reply SMS to acknowledge receipt of the message, and that SCDF officers are attending to the SMS message. A follow-up SMS will also be sent to inform that SCDF resource(s) are on the way.

Note: There are no additional charges apart from the normal Telco charges applicable to SMS.

Do’s and Don’ts

• Indicate which service you require and why (eg. Police, Ambulance or Fire engine)
• Try to be as detailed as possible when providing your location (eg. street name, block number, unit number, name of establishment, etc)
• Include a brief description of what had happened.
• Avoid ambiguous SMS abbreviations (eg. ‘I w W8 4 Pol b4 e bus stopl8r’ which means to say ‘I will wait for Police before the bus stop later’).

NOTE: Unless you have a disability to speak, you are highly encouraged to call 995 to speak to our operators.