
Police - Fire - Ambulance
(As referenced from Metro
Toronto Police Services)
What is 9-1-1?
Seconds count in an emergency! When you have an emergency just
dial 9-1-1. It is an easy telephone number to remember. When police, fire, or
medical emergencies occur, 9-1-1 can help save precious time. Your call is
answered by a trained emergency call taker who will provide you with the
assistance you require. You can also dial 9-1-1 from your cellular phone. The
call is toll free.
What is an Emergency?
An emergency is any situation where there are people or property at risk.
Examples include fires, crimes in progress or medical emergencies.
What You Should Know When Dialing 9-1-1
- at home, you can dial 9-1-1 direct
- at a business or other location, you may need to dial an outside line
before dialing 9-1-1
- at a pay phone, dial 9-1-1. This is a free call.
- when using a cellular phone be prepared to give the exact location of the
emergency. This is also a free call.
- for TTY access (Telephone Device for the Deaf) press the spacebar
announcer key repeatedly until a response is received.
- if the caller does not speak English, they must stay on the line while the
call taker links up with a telephone translations service. 140 languages are
available.
What You Can Do To Help 9-1-1 Help You!
Remain calm and speak clearly. Identify which emergency service you require
(Police, Fire, or Ambulance) and be prepared to provide the following:
- what is happening
- what is the location
- what is your name, address, and telephone number
Please remain on the line to provide additional information if requested to
do so by the call taker. DO NOT HANG UP UNTIL THE CALL TAKER ADVISES YOU TO DO
SO.
Remember, it is important to have your house numbers visible from the street.
This will assist emergency responders in locating you as quickly as possible.
What To Teach Your Children About 9-1-1
Do your children know how to get help in an emergency?
- teach your children how and when to get help from 9-1-1
- teach your children their address and telephone number as soon as they are
able to learn
- keep it posted by all phones in case they are unsure
- tell your children to answer all of the emergency call takers' questions
and stay on the phone until they are told to hang up
- teach your children about the dangers of making prank 9-1-1 calls
What Are The Dangers Of 9-1-1 Prank Calls?
Prank 9-1-1 calls waste time and money and can also be dangerous. If 9-1-1
lines or responders are busy with prank calls, someone with a real emergency
might not get the help that they need.
What Is NOT An Emergency?
It is not an emergency when the situation is not dangerous and immediate
action is not necessary.
Do not call 9-1-1:
- for information about school closings, road conditions, directions, etc.
- for directory assistance
- for information about paying parking tickets
- when you're bored and just want to talk
What If Your Complaint Is Not An Emergency?
If your complaint is not an emergency dial the non-emergency
number for the Service. Use that number for non-emergency calls
such as parking complaints, a noisy party, or lost and found articles.