Emergencies don’t give you time to think; they just happen. That’s why one of the simplest and most powerful things you can do for your household is make sure everyone knows the right numbers to call, and when to call them. Here in South Australia, 000 is the number you call in a life-threatening emergency. Whether it’s fire, police, or ambulance, 000 (triple zero) gets you straight to help when every second matters. But knowing when to call is just as important as knowing the number.
Teach your kids early
Children are often the ones at home when something goes wrong. Taking the time to sit with them and explain what “an emergency” really means (fire, someone badly hurt, break-in), that they should always stay calm, call 000, and listen to the operator, and how to give your home address or describe where they are, is a simple step that can save lives. A great tip is to role-play a pretend emergency. Kids remember far better when they’ve practiced.
Keep key numbers handy
Not every situation is a 000 call. Having a simple, visible list of numbers on your fridge or noticeboard can save a lot of stress:
132 500 – State Emergency Service (SES): for storm or flood damage, trees down, or urgent help during severe weather.
131 444 – Police Assistance Line: for police attendance in non-life-threatening situations like minor crashes, property damage, or noise complaints.
13 13 66 – SA Power Networks: for electricity faults and outages.
1300 729 283 – SA Water: for water supply issues.
13 11 26 – Poisons Information: if someone swallows something they shouldn’t.
If you’ve got older family members or teenagers with their own mobiles, encourage them to save these numbers into their phones too.
Make it part of your family routine
Think of it like fire drills. A five-minute chat once or twice a year about emergency numbers can make a world of difference. Stick a copy of your list on the fridge, in the caravan, or somewhere that’s easily accessible to your kids. Emergencies are stressful, but when everyone knows who to call and when, it takes away some of the panic and gives you back a little control.
About the 30Days30WaysAUS campaign
The 30Days30WaysAUS campaign is all about helping every South Australian get prepared, stay ready, and build resilience against emergencies. Each day in September we’ll be sharing simple, practical actions that make a big difference when it matters most. From bushfires to blackouts, floods to heatwaves, the goal is to make preparedness easy and part of everyday life.
Follow along with us on our website, Facebook, or Instagram @30Days30WaysAUS for daily hints, tips, messages, and practical activities to help you and your family get ready. Together, we can build a stronger, safer, more resilient South Australia.