Hamilton Paramedic Service urging residents to make the right call in non-emergency situations

HAMILTON, ON – Today, Hamilton Paramedic Services (HPS) launched a public awareness campaign to encourage residents to call an ambulance only in an emergency situation, and to seek other health services for less urgent needs. 

Heading into the busy holiday season, HPS is here to help. Timing is critical in a medical emergency and calling 9-1-1 for life threatening emergencies will ensure paramedics will be available when you need them most.

If you experience a life threating emergency such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, or signs of a stroke call 9-1-1 immediately. Residents are also reminded to call an ambulance for other medical emergencies such as:

• Chest pain or chest tightness
• Sudden numbness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg
• Difficulty breathing
• Serious accidents or trauma
• Extreme pain
• Large burns
• Severe bleeding
• Unconsciousness

There are many health care options available to if your health situation is not an emergency. Before calling for an ambulance for minor injuries, residents are asked to consider their medical needs and their options for quicker more appropriate care such as:

• Consulting your primary care provider
• Go to a walk-in/urgent care clinic
• Speak with a pharmacist for questions about general health or use of medications
• Call Telehealth Ontario: 1-866-737-000

“As your Hamilton paramedics strive to do their best in the face of broad health system pressures and rising call volumes we ask that the public not dial 9-1-1 for non-emergency medical situations that can be best handled by use of Ontario Telehealth, your family physician, or a visit to an Urgent Care Centre or Walk In Clinic. If it is a life-threatening emergency don’t hesitate. Dial 9-1-1 and we will be there. If it is not an emergency – 9-1-1 is not the answer. Make the right call." - Chief Michael Sanderson

Hamilton Paramedic Service

Quick facts

• Consulting your primary care provider
• Go to a walk-in/urgent care clinic
• Speak with a pharmacist for questions about general health or use of medications
• Call Telehealth Ontario: 1-866-737-000

Additional resources

• Communications Updates:
  • Ambulance Offload Delays – November 4, 2021
  • Paramedic Service Pressures and Media Briefing – December 17, 2021
• Telehealth Ontario:
  • www.ontario.ca/page/get-medical-advice-telehealth-ontario
• Hamilton Family Health Team – Find a provider:
  • www.hamiltonfht.ca/en/managing-my-health/Find-a-Health-Care-Provider.aspx
• Hamilton Urgent Care Centres:
  • Urgent Care Centres - Hamilton Health Sciences
  • Urgent Care Centre, King Campus - St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton (stjoes.ca)