Calling for an Ambulance

For life-threatening medical emergencies please call
9-1-1.
For all other inquiries (non-emergencies or bookings) please call 613-739-1918.

Most calls for medical assistance are received through the 9-1-1 emergency centre and will then be directed to the Ottawa Paramedic Service Central Ambulance Communication Centre. Please remember that the 9-1-1 system should only be used for life-threatening situations, a medical emergency, a fire or a crime in progress.

Image 9-1-1 emergency centre

When the call is received at the 9-1-1 centre, the 9-1-1 operator will ask you the type of emergency you are having - medical, fire or police type emergency. Calls that are medical in nature will be transferred to the Ottawa Central Ambulance Communication Centre. One of our expert communicators will require key information from you, which, in part, will assist the communicator in determining the severity of the situation that will be utilized in prioritizing the paramedic response. It is very important to answer all questions to the best of your knowledge and never to hang up the telephone until the communicator asks you to do so. These questions are of extreme importance, and will assist us to getting professional medical assistance to you as soon as possible.

NOTE: While you are speaking to the communicator about your emergency another communicator is initiating the process to send paramedics to your location. Please stay on the phone and answer all of the communicator's questions.

Your call for assistance is prioritized using a medical index card system. Based on the information you have supplied, a call priority will be assigned.

Priority Code System

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
 
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