Urgent?
If your problem is serious or urgent, go to the Emergency department. You will be seen quickly by a doctor.
How do I know if my health problem is urgent?
At the Emergency department, staff will decide how serious your health problem is. It is considered urgent if:
- Your life is in danger
- Your condition could worsen if you are not treated right away
- You have a serious injury
Go to the Emergency department. Call 911
Not urgent?
Possible wait time
If your problem is not urgent, you may have to wait several hours.
You should bring:
- Your medications
- Water
- Snacks
- Your phone charger
- Diapers for your child
- Etc.
Why is the wait sometimes so long?
A nurse will see you in triage, where they will evaluate you and assign a priority code.
Patients are not seen in the order they arrive. If someone arrives after you whose condition is more serious, they will see the doctor before you.
When to call 911
Call 911 if:
- Someone’s life is in danger
- Someone is in distress
- You witness a serious accident or a crime
- Someone needs to go to Emergency quickly
- Someone needs an ambulance
During the call
- The operator will ask you questions
- Give the exact address
- The operator will send help (ambulance, police, firefighters)
- Stay on the line until the operator tells you to hang up
What to know about ambulances
- The 911 operator may tell you to go to the hospital another way (taxi, family member) if it is safe to do so
- The paramedics may refer you to another resource
- Arriving by ambulance does not mean you will see a doctor faster
- The hospital triage nurses determine the order of priority
- Ambulance rides are not always free (although they often are for people aged 65 and over)
A safe at-home option
If you’re 50 or over and call 911, the operator may suggest a home support paramedicine visit.
👉If they recommend this option, it’s because they feel it’s safe in your condition.
How does it work?
- The paramedic will come to your home
- They will assess your condition
- They will speak to a home care nurse
- The nurse will decide on the appropriate care and safe timeframe
- The nurse will arrange the services you need
What happens next?
Within 24 hours, a home care nurse will visit you to administer the necessary care.
Videos (french only)
Le rôle du paramédic
Dans les coulisses des urgences : le triage
Dans les coulisses des urgences : la salle de réanimation