ICU Ambulance vs BLS Ambulance - Which One Do You Need?

When you call for an ambulance, the dispatcher will often ask: "Basic or ICU?" In a panic, most families don't know. This guide explains the difference in plain language so you can choose quickly - or describe the situation well enough for us to choose with you.

The three levels

BLS - Basic Life Support

What's inside: oxygen, stretcher, pulse oximeter, first-aid kit, trained attendant.

Choose BLS when: the patient is conscious, breathing normally or with mild difficulty, and needs to reach hospital lying down - falls, fractures, fever and weakness, pregnancy, most admissions.

Emergency BLS ambulance →

ALS - Advanced Life Support

What's inside: everything in BLS plus a multipara monitor, defibrillator, suction, IV medicines and a trained paramedic.

Choose ALS when: the patient may get worse on the way - chest pain, stroke symptoms, seizures, serious accidents, or oxygen levels that keep falling.

ALS ambulance →

ICU / Ventilator ambulance

What's inside: a moving ICU bed - transport ventilator, monitor, defibrillator, syringe pumps, suction and large oxygen supply, with a paramedic and optional doctor.

Choose ICU when: the patient is already in an ICU, on a ventilator or BiPAP, on multiple infusions, or critically unstable. This is the standard for hospital-to-hospital transfers of ICU patients.

ICU ambulance →

Quick decision table

Still not sure?

Tell the dispatcher three things: is the patient conscious, are they breathing comfortably, and are they currently in a hospital ICU? That is usually enough to decide. At Ananya we'll recommend the lowest level that is safe - and tell you honestly when an upgrade is needed.

Call 08130360764, 24x7.