1. Introduction

Priority1 EMS (“Priority1 EMS”, “we”, “us” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting personal information in accordance with applicable South African data-protection legislation, including the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA). This Privacy Policy explains how we may collect, use, store and protect personal information when you interact with Priority1 EMS, our website, emergency medical and ambulance services, communication channels, and associated digital systems.

2. Information We May Collect

Depending on the service being provided, we may collect information including your name, contact details, telephone number, physical or incident location, emergency information, service requests, communication records, dispatch information and other information reasonably required to provide our services. Where emergency medical services are provided, information relating to a patient’s medical condition, treatment or other health information may also be processed where necessary and lawful.

3. Emergency Dispatch and Location Information

Priority1 EMS may process location information for ambulance dispatch, navigation, emergency response and related operational purposes. Location information may include an incident address, GPS coordinates, ambulance location and location information voluntarily supplied by a caller, patient or other person requesting assistance. Where applicable, Priority1 EMS may provide a temporary ambulance tracking or location-sharing link to an authorised recipient so that the progress of a responding ambulance can be viewed.

4. WhatsApp Communications

Priority1 EMS may use WhatsApp and the WhatsApp Business Platform to communicate with patients, callers, staff, ambulance crews and other authorised persons. These communications may include dispatch information, emergency-response information, navigation details, ambulance location-sharing links, service notifications and other operational communications. Information transmitted through WhatsApp may also be processed by WhatsApp and Meta in accordance with their respective terms and privacy practices.

5. How We Use Personal Information

We may process personal information to provide emergency medical and ambulance services; receive and manage requests for assistance; dispatch and coordinate emergency vehicles; communicate with callers, patients and operational personnel; provide navigation and location information; maintain operational and service records; comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements; protect patients, personnel and the public; and administer Priority1 EMS services and systems.

6. Third-Party Services

Priority1 EMS may use trusted third-party technology providers where necessary to operate our services. These may include Meta and WhatsApp for communications, Google services for mapping and location verification, and GPS or vehicle-tracking service providers for ambulance location services. Information is shared with third-party service providers only where reasonably necessary for the relevant service, operational requirement or other lawful purpose.

7. Information Security

Priority1 EMS takes reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against loss, unauthorised access, misuse, alteration or disclosure. Access to operational information is restricted according to legitimate operational requirements and authorised user access.

8. Information Retention

Personal information is retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, or for a longer period where required or permitted by applicable law, healthcare requirements, regulatory obligations or legitimate record-keeping requirements.

9. Your Rights

Subject to applicable law, individuals may request access to personal information held about them, request correction of inaccurate information, object to certain processing, or request deletion of information where Priority1 EMS is legally permitted to delete it. Certain information may need to be retained where Priority1 EMS has a legal, regulatory, healthcare, contractual or legitimate operational obligation to do so.

10. Cookies and Website Information

Our website may use cookies or similar technologies required for website functionality, security, analytics or other legitimate website purposes. The information collected depends on the services and technologies enabled on the website.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

Priority1 EMS may update this Privacy Policy when our services, systems, legal obligations or privacy practices change. The current version will be made available on our website.

12. Contact Us

Questions or requests concerning this Privacy Policy or the processing of personal information can be submitted to Priority1 EMS through the contact information provided on our official website.

Priority1 EMS

South Africa