Emergency services are specialized services, including medical, fire, and police response, that provide immediate assistance in urgent situations to protect health, safety, and property.
Tips & Links
Knowing how to use emergency health services is important if you are aging or have a health condition, as it ensures timely and appropriate care during critical situations, potentially improving outcomes and reducing risks.
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- Learn about when it is appropriate to call emergency services 911 and what you will be asked by the dispatcher as outlined by BC Emergency Health Services.
- Know the phone number and address of where you are calling from, and that you may be asked questions about yourself or the person you are helping, such as health conditions, medications, and allergies.
- If the person has a life-limiting illness, first responders might be asked if they have a Do Not Resuscitate or No CPR order (DNR) or Medical Scope of Practice (MOST) form and its location. Both should be visible in the home such as on the side or front of the fridge.
- In BC, for a No CPR order to be effective, you might also consider wearing a MedicAlert bracelet or necklet.
- Know that you can cancel a No CPR order by speaking to your physician or nurse practitioner, tearing up the signed No CPR form, stopping wearing your MedicAlert No CPR bracelet or necklet, and informing MedicAlert of the update as soon as possible.
- Know that emergency responders may ask for your personal health information under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPP) in order to provide quality and safe care.
- Be aware of the emergency care options available in your community, such as urgent care centers.
Have a Plan
- Have a plan to contact your emergency contact, health advocate, or a care partner if you need immediate help.
- Talk with your physician, specialist or pharmacist to determine who to call for what and when.
- Call emergency services (911) if symptoms become life-threatening or you have difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, or loss of consciousness.
- Call 811 for general health information, direction on how to monitor your symptoms, or help in finding health care in your community, if needed. Navigation services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from Healthlink BC.
- If you or someone you care about talks about feeling helpless or is showing warning signs of suicide, find help right away. Call the BC Crisis Line at 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or call 911.
Mywell Health helps you organize your decision documents in one place such as a DNR or MOST document. Consider filing both digital and print copies under My-End of Life Decisions. Post a copy of each on the side or front of your fridge for first responders.
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