When do I call 9-1-1?

For a medical emergency, crime in progress or a fire.

http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/emergency/before/seven_steps/step_4/radio_en.html

Paramedics use the following system to determine the priority of a call:

CODE 1: Deferrable call

  • Non-urgent/non life threatening calls
  • Routine transfers with no scheduled appointment or time schedule

CODE 2: Scheduled call

  • Generally non-urgent/non-life threatening
  • Scheduled appointment or time to be met

CODE 3: Urgent

  • Non-life threatening, however, call is of serious enough in nature in which excessive delay in responding could become life threatening -i.e. fractures

CODE 4: Life-threatening

  • Life and /or limb threatening in nature
  • Call will be acted on immediately

Tips for how to help the operator:

  • Tell the operator if it's a medical, fire or police emergency.
  • Explain what's happening and answer all questions thoroughly.
  • Follow instructions that the emergency services person gives you.
  • Do not hang up the phone unless you're instructed to do so.

http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/ambulance/structure_contact/communications/calling/index_en.html

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