What to do and Who to call during an emergency in Canada

If someone is in immediate danger in Canada, call 911. Request police, fire or ambulance assistance, and give the exact address, community and province or territory. Do not delay a life-threatening emergency call to find a website, save a contact or send a family group message.

This is a practical Canada-specific guide for residents and visitors: quick numbers first, then a clear first-minute plan, what to say to the operator, and safe actions during fires, injuries, poisonings, overdoses, floods, wildfires and severe winter weather. Canada has national services but also important provincial, territorial, local and remote-community differences. Official sources checked 4 November 2026.

Quick answer: who to call in an emergency in Canada

911 — police, fire or ambulance emergencies: use in communities where 911 service operates, as it does across most of Canada. In some remote communities, local emergency arrangements differ: know the official emergency number for the place you are visiting or living.
988 — Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text at any hour for suicide-crisis support in English or French. If a person needs an immediate ambulance or protection from imminent physical danger, call 911.
1-844-764-7669 (1-844-POISON-X) — poison centre: specialist advice for a suspected poisoning in many provinces and territories. Quebec: 1-800-463-5060. In Nunavut, contact the local health centre for poisoning advice.
Local police non-emergency contact: varies by municipal police service and the RCMP or provincial force. Use the official local route for theft reports, non-immediate concerns or information.
Provincial or territorial health advice: some areas use 811, but rules and coverage differ. Do not present 811 as a single nationwide emergency number.
Emergency alerts and evacuation orders: follow local officials, provincial or territorial emergency management and alerts carried through the Alert Ready system.

The Canadian government confirms the role of 911 and 988 in suicide and emergency help guidance. The Canadian Association for Poison Centres publishes the applicable poisoning numbers by region at infopoison.ca.

Your first seven steps when something serious happens

Check the hazard. Get away from flames, smoke, traffic, unstable structures, live wires, violent threats and floodwater if you can. Never attempt a rescue that creates another casualty.
Call 911 or the locally designated emergency number. Tell the call-taker which service is needed or briefly state the danger. In a remote region with a different arrangement, use the locally published emergency contact.
Give a precise location. Include street address, apartment or unit, town or community, province or territory, entrance, closest cross street and landmarks. On a rural highway, give direction of travel and kilometre marker.
Say what happened in one sentence. One person collapsed; smoke is coming through a door; two vehicles have collided with injuries; a person is threatening others.
Report people and conditions. Say how many people are affected and whether anyone is unconscious, not breathing normally, bleeding, trapped, exposed to fire or unable to move.
Listen and follow instructions. Do not hang up until directed. Emergency dispatchers may guide CPR, use of an AED and other immediate actions.
Keep access open when safe. Tell the operator if the building has several entrances or if snow, flooding, a gate or an unploughed road blocks the way. Inform family after the emergency call.

Example in English: ‘Ambulance, please. A person is unconscious at [house number and street], [city], [province], unit [number]. Use the north entrance. My phone number is [number].’ In French: ‘Ambulance, s’il vous plaît. Une personne est inconsciente au [adresse], à [ville], [province]. L’entrée est du côté nord. Mon numéro est le [numéro].’ Use whichever language you can explain most clearly.

What happens when you call 911

An emergency call-taking and dispatch system connects the caller to the agency and responders needed for the location. Different municipalities and regions operate differently; questions about street address, municipality, province, injuries and call-back number help route the call correctly. You might be transferred to an ambulance or police communicator, or asked for additional details while a response is arranged.

A mobile phone may provide location information, but GPS or cell-tower data does not remove the need for an accurate verbal description. Mobile coverage can be limited on northern roads, in remote parks, on waterways or after infrastructure failures. Learn local emergency access arrangements in advance where 911 service, communications coverage or emergency transport is limited.

Which number for which problem?

A person has a serious medical emergency

Call 911 for life-threatening breathing difficulty, collapse, suspected stroke, severe chest pain, major trauma, serious bleeding or another immediate medical danger. Describe what you see rather than diagnosing an illness. If the dispatcher instructs you to give CPR or use an AED, follow those directions and your training. Do not leave an injured person without support to search the internet.

If someone is unconscious but breathing normally, follow dispatcher guidance on positioning and monitoring. If severe bleeding is present, apply appropriate direct pressure when safe. If multiple people are present, assign one person to direct responders to the correct building entrance, while another stays with the patient.

A suspected opioid overdose

An opioid overdose may involve a person who cannot be awakened, very slow or absent breathing, unusual snoring or gurgling, and blue or grey discolouration. Call 911 immediately. If naloxone is available, administer it according to product instructions and your training, and give rescue breathing or CPR as instructed by dispatch or appropriate first-aid training. Stay with the person until emergency help arrives, if it is safe.

Naloxone may temporarily reverse an opioid overdose but it can wear off and further treatment may still be needed. Canada’s Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act gives certain legal protections to people seeking emergency help in an overdose; do not let fear or uncertainty delay the call. Source: Health Canada overdose guidance.

Fire or smoke in a home, condominium, hotel or workplace

Activate the fire alarm where appropriate, get people to safety, and call 911, Fire. Leave using the building’s safe evacuation instructions, close doors behind you where possible and avoid elevators during an active fire unless instructed by firefighters. Do not return into smoke for belongings. If you cannot escape, tell the fire dispatcher precisely which floor, unit, window or room you occupy and follow the building-specific advice.

Apartment and condominium fire strategies can depend on building construction, fire location, smoke conditions and local fire department direction. Do not assume a rule learned in another building is always correct. In a building with an unsafe hallway, report the hazard to dispatch rather than attempting to force a dangerous escape.

An assault, a threat or a crime in progress

Move to a safer location and call 911, Police when a violent incident is occurring or someone faces immediate danger. Report your location and what you have directly seen. Do not follow an armed suspect or take risky video for social media. Non-urgent crimes or information may be reported through the official local police or RCMP non-emergency process, which is not the same number in every Canadian community.

A child or adult may have been poisoned

When someone has swallowed, inhaled or touched a potentially toxic substance, seek poison-centre advice promptly. Across most provinces and territories the number is 1-844-764-7669; in Quebec call 1-800-463-5060, and in Nunavut contact the local health centre. Have the product name and container ready if safe. Do not induce vomiting or give home remedies unless advised by the poison specialists.

Call 911 first if the exposed person is unconscious, not breathing normally, having a seizure or in other immediate danger. Official current contact information: Canadian poison-centre regional directory. Although some federal material describes 1-844-POISON-X as a Canadian number, the live poison-centre directory identifies important exceptions. Use the region-specific contact.

A loved one needs suicide-crisis or emotional support

Call or text 988 for Canada’s national Suicide Crisis Helpline, available continuously in English and French. It is for people experiencing suicidal distress and anyone worried about another person. For immediate medical emergencies or imminent physical danger where on-scene responders are needed, call 911. Other regional or culturally specific supports may be available; consult the official provincial or territorial service directory.

Suicide-crisis support is different from emergency dispatch. Do not tell a caller that 988 automatically sends an ambulance or is equivalent to 911. Canada’s Public Health Agency lists the purpose and availability at Government of Canada 988.

Wildfire emergencies: when to call and when to leave

Wildfire danger changes quickly with wind, dry vegetation, terrain and road access. If an advancing fire threatens life or property, report it using 911 or your local emergency number. Follow provincial or territorial evacuation alerts and orders; do not wait until flames appear at the door. A voluntary early departure may be safer than a last-minute drive through smoke and blocked roads, depending on the instructions and the hazard.

Keep essential medication, identification, important contact numbers, pet supplies, a charger and a portable emergency bag ready during wildfire season. Check on anyone who needs mobility help and do not assume neighbours can evacuate without assistance. Follow approved evacuation routes, not shortcuts. Provincial and territorial fire and emergency management agencies provide the binding local instructions.

Wildfire smoke is also a health hazard outside the immediate fire zone. Monitor local air-quality advisories, limit strenuous outdoor activity during poor air quality, and follow health advice for people with heart or lung conditions. If breathing becomes severely impaired, call 911. Sources: Canada wildfire preparedness and wildfire smoke health guidance.

Flooding, dangerous ice and severe winter weather

Flooding or a river breaking its banks

Move away from rising water, follow local evacuation directions and avoid crossing flooded roads, bridges and underpasses. Water may hide broken pavement, debris, electrical equipment and fast currents. If a person is stranded, injured or in immediate danger, call 911 or the local emergency route and give the precise location. Follow the local authority’s directions for shelters and closures.

Do not enter a flooded basement to switch off electricity. A submerged panel or appliance can be lethal. Never operate a portable generator, barbecue, camp stove or other fuel-burning appliance inside a home or garage because of carbon-monoxide risk. The Canadian government’s flood safety guidance provides specific precautions.

Snowstorm, extreme cold or a long power outage

Winter emergencies can disrupt heating, mobility, communications and access to food or medication. Call 911 if a person has severe symptoms, is trapped in immediate danger or urgently needs emergency rescue. For local warming centres, road conditions, power-restoration reports and shelter information, use the provincial, territorial, municipality and utility channels rather than the 911 line.

Keep blankets, appropriate warm clothing, water, a safe backup plan for medically necessary electricity and an alternate communication method. Do not heat a house with a gas oven or indoor charcoal fire. Carbon monoxide is dangerous because it may have no warning odour; leave the area if an alarm indicates a hazard and call emergency services from a safe place.

Ice on lakes and rivers

Ice strength varies across short distances and after changes in weather, currents or snowfall. Do not assume a lake is safe because someone else walked across it. If someone falls through ice or is trapped, call 911 and give the closest access point and landmark. Reaching out from a safe position may be preferable to approaching thin ice; do not become another person needing rescue.

Alert Ready: what to do when an emergency warning sounds

Canada’s Alert Ready system can distribute urgent public safety alerts over compatible wireless devices, television and radio. It is not itself a phone number for the public to call. When an alert arrives, read the location, the threat and the instructed action. A tornado alert may require immediate sturdy shelter; a wildfire evacuation order may require leaving; a shelter-in-place notice may require staying indoors.

Do not assume the same instruction applies to every disaster. A wrong action in the wrong hazard can increase risk. Verify updates through your provincial or territorial emergency management agency and other official channels. Federal explanation: Alert Ready emergency system.

What to say to 911 from a Canadian city, northern community or highway

Location: give house number, street, city or community, province or territory, postal code if known, and building entrance.
On a highway: give highway number, direction, nearest town, intersection or kilometre marker.
In a remote community: use the locally recognised landmark, settlement name, road or airstrip access point, and any verified GPS coordinates.
Incident: give the number of people, injuries, current threat and whether the site is safe to reach.
Access: describe road closures, snow, fallen trees, flooding, locked doors or gates that affect response.
Callback: give the best working phone number and say if battery or reception may fail.

Canadian geography matters. An apartment in Toronto may require a tower and loading entrance. A rural Manitoba road call benefits from an exact kilometre marker. In a northern settlement, a known community building or access track may be essential. Do not invent location details, and do not rely only on a map pin that responders may not automatically receive.

Simple 72-hour preparedness for Canadian households

Public Safety Canada encourages households to be able to manage at least 72 hours of basic needs if major services are disrupted. The exact kit depends on climate, access to water, whether anyone needs medication or assistive devices, and whether you could be asked to leave. Do not buy a generic kit without assessing your household.

Write the full address, local emergency number and out-of-area family contact on paper.
Pack drinking water, ready-to-eat food, a manual can opener and suitable first aid supplies.
Include necessary medication, copies of essential documents and details of powered medical devices.
Keep a flashlight, batteries, power bank and a way to receive official warnings when internet fails.
Plan winter warmth, wildfire smoke protection and evacuation supplies according to local hazards.
Add infant, pet, accessibility and mobility items where needed.
Agree a household meeting point and practice how to report the correct location in an emergency.

Official preparedness guidance: Government of Canada emergency kit checklist.

Fast decision examples

An adult suddenly collapses or stops breathing normally: 911.
Smoke and flames are filling a shared apartment hallway: 911 and follow fire-safety instructions.
A neighbour is facing a violent threat: 911 from a safe location.
Someone is worried about suicidal thoughts and needs crisis support: call or text 988; if in immediate physical danger requiring responders, 911.
A toddler has accidentally swallowed medicine and remains awake: contact the regional poison centre promptly; escalate for severe symptoms.
A wildfire evacuation order arrives: follow local emergency-management directions; call the emergency number for immediate rescue needs.
A regular power outage with no immediate danger: contact the local electrical utility, not emergency dispatch.

Mistakes that can delay help

Assuming a national directory means the same non-emergency service works identically in every province or territory.
Using 988 as a substitute for an ambulance or urgent police response.
Calling 1-844-POISON-X without checking the Quebec and Nunavut poison-centre exceptions.
Delaying a 911 call during an overdose because naloxone has already been administered.
Driving through flooded roads or wildfire smoke after authorities have ordered evacuation.
Using a generator indoors or entering a flooded basement to shut off electricity.
Giving only a province name instead of a precise community, road, address or access point.
Trusting a forwarded screenshot over an official alert, current local order or dispatcher instruction.

Frequently asked questions

Is 911 the emergency number everywhere in Canada?

911 is the primary emergency number across most of the country. Some remote or northern communities have local arrangements or restricted availability, so residents and travellers should confirm the officially designated emergency contact for their location before they need it.

Is 988 for medical emergencies?

988 provides suicide-crisis support by call and text. For a life-threatening medical event or imminent danger that requires on-scene emergency services, call 911.

What is the poison control number in Quebec?

The Centre antipoison du Québec lists 1-800-463-5060. Most other provinces and territories use 1-844-764-7669, while Nunavut residents should contact their local health centre. See the current poison-centre directory.

Should I call 811 to get an ambulance?

No. 811 is a health-information or advice number in some provinces and territories, not Canada’s national emergency dispatch number. For serious emergencies, use 911 or the official local emergency route.

What should I do during a wildfire evacuation?

Follow the current provincial or territorial evacuation order and approved route. Do not return until authorities say it is safe, and call emergency services if someone is trapped or in immediate danger.

Can I call 911 if I am not sure how serious the condition is?

When there is a reasonable concern of immediate danger, call and describe symptoms without guessing a diagnosis. Dispatch staff can assess the situation and advise what to do next.

Official Canadian sources and further reading

Safety and editorial scope: A webpage cannot dispatch help, confirm the severity of symptoms or override local emergency directions. Some Canadian services vary by community and region. Content checked 4 November 2026. In a current emergency, call 911 or your local designated emergency number immediately.