Niagara EMS Dispatch Centre
The Niagara EMS communications centre is a state of the art facility that receives a total of 70,000 calls a year that result in the transportation of about 38,000 patients.
What happens when you call 9-1-1
When a resident calls 9-1-1, they will reach an emergency dispatcher who asks whether the emergency is for ambulance, police, or fire. If the caller identifies the need for ambulance service, the call is directed to the EMS communications centre. The caller's address and telephone number are displayed within the Centre.
Learn more about calling 9-1-1 in Niagara.
Role of Emergency Dispatchers in Niagara
Emergency dispatch personnel play an important role at Niagara EMS. They are responsible for the following:
- Deciding call priority through the use of a priority dispatch system. This allows the operator to identify the nature and seriousness of the call.
- Evaluating a patient's condition and decide upon the appropriate action.
- Forwarding details to the responding paramedics.
- Staying on the line with the caller and providing pre-arrival instructions and support.
Other Services Offered by EMS Dispatch Centres
Niagara EMS subscribes to a translation service that offers 24-hour access to interpreters of 150 languages. The caller, emergency dispatcher and interpreter participate in a three-way-call to determine the appropriate response.
Dispatchers also monitor the status of hospital emergency rooms to ensure quick attention for patients requiring critical care and to assist in equally distributing patients requiring less critical care.
Communications centre staff also ensure the best distribution of available paramedic crews throughout the Niagara. This is accomplished by the deployment of ambulances in response to demand, which changes throughout the day.