Ambulance or non-emergency transport: which to call
Since 1996
Serving the region
7 days a week
Seven days a week, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Trained
First aid, CPR, PDSB
Bilingual
Ottawa and Gatineau
Call 911 for an emergency: chest pain, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, trauma.
Non-emergency medical transport is for people whose condition is stable and whose trip can be planned in advance: an appointment, a transfer between facilities, a return home.
When should you call 911?
Call 911 right away for chest pain, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, or serious trauma. These situations need an ambulance equipped for emergency response, not a planned transport.
What is non-emergency transport?
Non-emergency transport is for a person whose condition is stable and whose trip can be planned ahead of time: a medical appointment, a transfer between facilities, or a return home after a hospital stay.
What is the price difference?
Non-emergency transport costs less than an ambulance, because it does not mobilize an emergency response team and equipment. Its price depends instead on distance, mode of transport and waiting time.
Can someone be transported on a stretcher without an ambulance?
Yes: TSMO transports people on a stretcher for non-emergency trips, with the necessary equipment on board, when the person’s condition is stable.
What if their condition changes during the trip?
If someone’s condition worsens during a non-emergency transport, call 911: non-emergency transport is not equipped to manage a medical emergency on the road.
Frequently asked questions
When should you call 911?
Call 911 right away for chest pain, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, or serious trauma. These situations need an ambulance equipped for emergency response, not a planned transport.
What is non-emergency transport?
Non-emergency transport is for a person whose condition is stable and whose trip can be planned ahead of time: a medical appointment, a transfer between facilities, or a return home after a hospital stay.
What is the price difference?
Non-emergency transport costs less than an ambulance, because it does not mobilize an emergency response team and equipment. Its price depends instead on distance, mode of transport and waiting time.
Can someone be transported on a stretcher without an ambulance?
Yes: TSMO transports people on a stretcher for non-emergency trips, with the necessary equipment on board, when the person’s condition is stable.
What if their condition changes during the trip?
If someone’s condition worsens during a non-emergency transport, call 911: non-emergency transport is not equipped to manage a medical emergency on the road.
Seven days a week, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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