What to do first, in the first 1 to 5 minutes
In Calabar, minutes matter. Traffic, rain-flooded streets, and patchy network in some spots can slow help. Your best plan is simple, and you practise it before anything happens.
Step 1: Make the scene safe
- Road crash: move yourself off the road edge, watch for fuel, fire, broken glass, and oncoming vehicles. Do not stand in the middle of the road to “direct”.
- Domestic emergency: if there is violence or a threat, get out first. Medical help cannot arrive safely if the scene is unsafe.
- Electrical shock: switch off power at the source before touching the person.
Step 2: Quick check, then call
Ask three fast questions:
- Is the person awake?
- Are they breathing normally?
- Is there heavy bleeding that will not stop?
If any answer is “no”, or you are not sure, treat it as an emergency and call for help immediately.
Who to contact first in Calabar (fastest order)
You have three practical options: the national emergency number, a hospital emergency unit, and security/road safety responders for crashes. Because the state is strengthening emergency medical services through SEMSAS/SEMTC, call routing may improve, but you still need backup options when one line fails.
Option A: Dial 112 (Nigeria’s national emergency number)
Start with 112 where possible. It is Nigeria’s recognised emergency entry point, and it can route you to relevant responders depending on location and availability. Program it into your phone now. For a general overview of Nigeria emergency numbers including 112, see this Nigeria emergency numbers guide.
Option B: Call a major emergency unit directly (hospital A&E)
If 112 does not connect quickly, or you already know the best receiving facility, call the hospital’s emergency unit and start moving (or arrange transport) based on their instruction. In Calabar, the biggest public referral anchor is University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), which publicly lists its Accident & Emergency services.
Why this matters: UCTH handles serious cases and referrals, and it is a common destination for severe trauma and complex emergencies.
Option C: For road traffic crashes, also alert road safety/security
For a crash scene, getting the road controlled helps ambulances and private vehicles reach you. If you have access to local FRSC or police contacts in your area, call them after you have initiated medical help. If you do not have their direct numbers saved, 112 is still a starting point.
Fast route thinking: downtown Calabar vs the Ikom–Calabar corridor
Calabar emergencies are often delayed by one thing: people argue about where to go. Decide using distance, severity, and what facility can actually stabilise.
If you are in downtown Calabar (Marian, Watt Market area, State Housing, Big Qua)
- Severe or unclear emergency: aim for a 24/7 emergency unit first (often UCTH A&E), unless a nearer emergency unit confirms it can stabilise immediately.
- Minor but urgent: a reputable nearby clinic can treat quickly, but if the person is worsening, do not keep “trying places”. Escalate to a major emergency unit.
If you are coming from the Ikom–Calabar corridor (Odukpani axis and beyond)
- Do not wait until you reach town if the patient is unstable. Stop at the nearest facility that can stop bleeding, give oxygen, treat shock, or manage airway issues, then transfer.
- As you approach Calabar, call ahead to the intended receiving hospital so the emergency unit is ready on arrival.
Cross River State has been publicly strengthening emergency care coordination through SEMSAS/SEMTC, including ambulance system onboarding and multi-agency response. See the state update here: Cross River emergency care/EMS onboarding announcement.
What to say when you call for urgent help (script you can read out)
People lose time because they start with long stories. Start with the essentials, then answer questions.
| 1. Exact location | Street name, number if known, and a landmark that anyone can recognise (fuel station, church/mosque, school gate, junction). Add the nearest major road (for example “Ifeanyi Avenue, by…”). |
| 2. What happened | Crash, collapse, suspected stroke, heavy bleeding, breathing problem, seizure, labour complication, drowning, snakebite, severe malaria symptoms. |
| 3. Patient details | Approximate age, sex, and if the person is conscious or unconscious. Mention pregnancy and infant/child immediately. |
| 4. Breathing and bleeding | “Breathing normally / not breathing / struggling.” “Bleeding controlled / not controlled.” |
| 5. Any known medical history | Asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, hypertension, sickle cell, heart disease. Current medications and allergies if known. |
| 6. Your callback number | Tell them the best number to reach you, and keep your phone line free after the call. |
If network is weak (common pain points around busy roads and some pockets)
- Move a few steps to a more open spot, near a junction, or outside a building wall. Even 10 to 20 metres can help.
- If voice calls fail, send a short SMS or WhatsApp message to a trusted contact who can call on your behalf. Message should start with LOCATION, then EMERGENCY, then CALL ME.
- If you are in a crowded area (market, motor park, shopping complex), ask a second person on a different network to call too.
While you are waiting for help or arranging transport
Do only what you can do safely, and do not delay transport for “perfect” help.
Bleeding
- Press firmly on the wound with clean cloth or gauze.
- If the cloth soaks, add another layer. Do not keep removing the first layer.
Suspected stroke or heart attack
- Do not wait for it to “pass”. Call and move toward a hospital.
- Keep the person sitting or lying comfortably, loosen tight clothing, and watch breathing.
Seizure
- Clear nearby objects. Do not hold the person down.
- After the shaking stops, place them on their side if they are drowsy or vomiting.
Drowning (Calabar River, beach outings, waterlogged drains)
- Get the person out of the water safely, then call immediately.
- If they are not breathing and you are trained in CPR, start CPR while someone else calls.
Snakebite (bush edges, farms, undeveloped plots)
- Keep the person still. Do not cut the wound, suck it, or apply unknown chemicals.
- Go to a hospital urgently and tell them it is a snakebite.
Decide: ambulance, private car, taxi, or bike?
In Calabar, you may not always get an ambulance quickly. The best transport is the one that gets the patient to the right emergency unit fast and safely.
| Choose ambulance if… | Unconscious person, severe breathing trouble, heavy bleeding, suspected spinal injury, multiple casualties, or the patient needs monitoring en route. |
| Choose a car/taxi if… | The person is conscious and stable enough to sit or lie safely, and waiting will cost more time than moving now. |
| Avoid bike if… | Head injury, suspected fracture, heavy bleeding, pregnancy complications, child in respiratory distress, or severe weakness. |
Next, you need to know which Calabar facilities are most dependable for specific emergencies, how after-hours timing changes your choices, and what to do when an ambulance is delayed.
Choose the right place to go (and why after-hours changes everything)
After you have called for help and started moving, the next decision is where you will get the patient stabilised. In Calabar, the safest default for a life-threatening case is a major hospital emergency unit that runs day and night, not a small facility that closes early.
When you should go straight to a tertiary emergency unit
If any of these are present, skip the “trial and error” stops.
- Unconsciousness, collapse, or the person cannot stay awake
- Breathing difficulty, noisy breathing, bluish lips, or severe asthma attack
- Heavy bleeding, deep wounds, or bleeding that does not slow with firm pressure
- Severe head injury, suspected spinal injury, or the person is confused after a fall or crash
- Suspected stroke, sudden one-sided weakness, facial droop, new slurred speech
- Severe chest pain, suspected heart attack, fainting with sweating or vomiting
- Repeated seizures, or a seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes
- Serious burns, chemical exposure, or electrocution
- Multiple casualties from a crash
In Calabar, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) is a key referral centre with an Accident & Emergency unit and public information on emergency services. See UCTH Accident & Emergency and the hospital’s contact page for official channels.
After-hours reality check (nights, weekends, public holidays)
- Staffing changes: some private clinics keep doors open but do not have a doctor, lab, or oxygen-ready team on ground at night.
- Power issues: even when a place is “open”, power supply can affect lighting, labs, and imaging. Ask directly if they can handle the problem now.
- Transfers take time: if a facility cannot admit or stabilise, you may lose an extra hour doing referrals. That hour matters for stroke, bleeding, and breathing problems.
If you are calling ahead, ask short questions: “Is your emergency unit active now?” and “Do you have oxygen and a clinician on ground?” If they hesitate, move on.
Pediatric, newborn, and pregnancy emergencies (what parents should do)
Children can look fine, then crash quickly. Pregnant women can bleed fast. Decide based on the risk, not on convenience.
| Emergency | Red flags | Best first move |
| Newborn (0 to 28 days) | Poor feeding, fast breathing, fever, cold body, fits, yellow eyes spreading fast | Go to a hospital that can provide oxygen and newborn care, call ahead while moving |
| Child (1 month to 5 years) | Convulsions, severe diarrhoea with weakness, neck stiffness, breathing difficulty, not drinking | Emergency unit first, avoid home drips and herbal mixtures |
| Pregnancy | Bleeding, severe headache with blurred vision, swelling with fits, severe abdominal pain, labour with distress | Go where theatre and blood access are realistic, not where they will “observe till morning” |
Private clinic vs public hospital, a quick decision rule
- Choose a private clinic only if it confirms it can stabilise immediately and is ready to refer without delay if needed.
- Choose a major public hospital/tertiary centre when the case is severe, unclear, or worsening by the minute.
Ambulance in Calabar: what to expect, and what to do if it delays
Ambulances exist, but response can be uneven. Traffic, rain, and dispatch coverage matter. Cross River State has publicly signalled a push to strengthen emergency care and ambulance coordination through SEMSAS/SEMTC and related EMS onboarding efforts, which should improve systems over time. Read the state update here: Cross River EMS onboarding announcement.
If an ambulance is coming but you cannot wait
- Run parallel plans: while one person stays on the line, another secures a car or taxi. Do not gamble on one option.
- Send your exact location by message: drop a pin if possible, and add a landmark in text. Many drivers miss small streets.
- Choose the right vehicle setup: one caregiver in the back. Keep the front seat free for directions and phone calls.
- Do not give food or drink to a severely ill or injured person. It can complicate emergency treatment.
How to create access on tight streets (and during market congestion)
- Pick a meeting point on a wider road or junction, then carry or guide the patient there if safe.
- Use one road guide to wave down the vehicle and lead it to you. Too many guides confuses drivers.
- In heavy rain, avoid low-lying flooded stretches. Take higher routes even if they add minutes.
- In gated streets and compounds, open the gate early. Keep someone at the gate to prevent “we can’t find the key” delays.
Riverine and flood-prone areas: make a two-route plan
If you live near the Calabar River or in places that flood, plan as if the road will be blocked at night during rains.
- Dry-season route: your normal fastest route to the nearest major road and hospital.
- Rainy-season route: a safer, higher route that stays passable, even if it is longer.
- Pick-up point: agree on one spot everyone knows, like a school gate, church frontage, or a main junction.
- Light and power: keep a torch, rechargeable lamp, and power bank where the whole household can find it quickly.
What to keep ready at home, in your shop, and in your car
Your emergency kit is not about playing doctor. It is about speeding up decisions and hospital handover.
Documents and identifiers
- Any ID card, NHIA/HMO card if you have one
- Antenatal card for pregnant women
- Child immunisation card for infants and toddlers
- Known blood group record, if available
Medical information sheet (one paper that saves time)
- Full name, age, home address with landmark
- Known conditions (hypertension, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, sickle cell)
- Current drugs and doses
- Allergies
- Two next-of-kin numbers saved as ICE 1 and ICE 2
If someone in the household does not speak English confidently, write key phrases in simple English on the same paper, for example: “I have asthma”, “I am diabetic”, “I am pregnant”, “Allergy to …”.
Quick bystander checks that help you act fast
| Situation | Fast check | Immediate action |
| Stroke | Face droop, one arm weakness, speech changes | Call for help, note the time symptoms started, head to an emergency unit |
| Severe malaria or sepsis | Very high fever, confusion, repeated vomiting, extreme weakness | Urgent hospital assessment, avoid self-infused drips at home |
| Severe allergic reaction | Swollen lips/face, wheeze, trouble breathing | Emergency care now, use prescribed allergy medication if available |
| Drowning or near-drowning | Breathing trouble, coughing water, bluish lips | Urgent hospital care, keep warm, CPR if trained and needed |
| Snakebite | Fast swelling, weakness, bleeding, vomiting | Keep still, no cutting or sucking, urgent hospital care |
PHCs and community health workers: when they help, and when to bypass
Primary Health Centres can be helpful for guidance and initial care in mild to moderate problems, especially if they are close and accessible. They can also direct you to the right referral point.
But bypass a PHC and go straight to a hospital emergency unit when the problem is life-threatening, sudden and severe, or worsening quickly. Do not let distance to “the familiar place” cost you time.
People and culture: avoid the delay that comes from “approval first”
In many Calabar families, a senior person is expected to decide. Respect is important, but emergencies do not wait.
- Notify key family members while you are already moving, not before you move.
- Send a simple update message: location, hospital you are going to, and what happened.
- If you expect disagreement, take one respected person along as witness, and keep the medical information sheet ready for staff.
Busy public places: a simple preparedness plan for shops and offices
Emergencies happen around busy spots like shopping areas, parks, and motor parks. A little coordination prevents chaos.
- Agree who calls, who guides vehicles, and who clears space.
- Write the exact address and landmark of your shop/office on paper near the counter.
- Keep a basic first-aid box and disposable gloves.
- Save one trusted taxi driver number for emergencies, and test the route to a major emergency unit once, not during the crisis.
Multi-person incident (road crash) handover plan
- Make the scene safe and prevent another crash.
- Call for help and say clearly: “Multiple injured”.
- Prioritise those who are not breathing, heavily bleeding, or unconscious.
- Assign roles: caller, road guide, note-taker.
- Do not overload one vehicle. Send the worst cases first, one caregiver per patient.
- On arrival, give staff a short handover: what happened, when it happened, what you observed, what first aid was done.
Numbers to save and links to keep
- 112 (Nigeria emergency number)
- UCTH official contacts: UCTH Contact Us
Save these today, not when you are already shaking. If you found this guide useful, share it with your family WhatsApp group and your street association. MyCalabar will keep publishing Calabar-specific how-to guides like this, and we will update contact links as Cross River’s emergency response system improves.