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