Welcome to our new website

We’ve redesigned niagararegion.ca to make it easier to find what you need. We’re still putting on the finishing touches, so over the next few weeks you may notice:

  • Search is still learning. Some results may be incomplete or out of date. Try browsing by topic from the main menu.
  • Some links may not work. Old bookmarks and links may lead to pages that have moved.
  • Pages are still being updated. We’re reviewing content across the site and improving it as we go.

Paramedic operations

Niagara Emergency Medical Services (Niagara EMS) provides 24-hour emergency medical care and transportation to people who are injured or sick. Our team of qualified front-line paramedics and dispatchers use up-to-date equipment and technology to give residents and visitors the best care possible.

EMS stations

Niagara Emergency Medical Services operates 19 bases and a community response unit. The bases are located throughout Niagara so help can reach you quickly.

By the numbers

Three people standing next to each other

54,000

Patient contacts each year

Head wearing a headset

80,000

Calls managed by advanced emergency medical dispatchers

A stethescope

130,000

Clinical procedures performed by paramedics per year

Map

1,850 km²

Across 12 cities and towns between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie

An ambulance with a flashing light

2.4 million+

Kilometres travelled annually by ambulances

First aid kit

750+

Medical supplies stocked in each ambulance

Paramedic response times

Targets for emergency medical response times are legislated by the province and set annually by local municipalities. Our targets are based on previous response times and are approved by Regional Council. Niagara EMS is mandated to submit a Response Time Performance Plan to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care annually. The response plan is published and publicly reported.

How calls are prioritized

Response times are defined by the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS), a commonly used system that prioritizes patient care based on severity, signs and symptoms. The scale has five levels.

1
Resuscitation
Conditions that are threats to life or limb
2
Emergent
Conditions that are a potential threat to life, limb or function
3
Urgent
Serious conditions that require emergency intervention
4
Less urgent
Conditions that relate to patient distress or potential complications that would benefit from intervention
5
Non-urgent
Conditions that are non-urgent or that may be part of a chronic problem

What we measure

A heart with a heart-rate monitor wave running through it

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)

The time from our dispatch receiving the call to the arrival of any trained or qualified person to provide defibrillation. Sudden cardiac arrest is an unexpected, immediate loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness, and may include heart attacks.

An analog clock reading 12:20

CTAS 1 to 5

The time from our dispatch receiving the call to the arrival of a Niagara EMS paramedic.

Response time results

Learn about response times in Ontario.

Dispatch

  • CTAS 1 ResuscitationTarget: 2 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 68%
  • SCA Sudden cardiac arrestTarget: 2 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 33%

Paramedics

  • CTAS 1 ResuscitationTarget: 8 minutes, 80% of the time
    Result: 73%
  • CTAS 2 EmergentTarget: 15 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 84%
  • CTAS 3 UrgentTarget: 30 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 87%
  • CTAS 4 Less urgentTarget: 60 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 94%
  • CTAS 5 Non-urgentTarget: 120 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 99%
  • SCA Sudden cardiac arrestTarget: 6 minutes, 55% of the time
    Result: 53%

Dispatch

  • CTAS 1 ResuscitationTarget: 2 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 54%
  • SCA Sudden cardiac arrestTarget: 2 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 33%

Paramedics

  • CTAS 1 ResuscitationTarget: 8 minutes, 80% of the time
    Result: 72%
  • CTAS 2 EmergentTarget: 15 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 85%
  • CTAS 3 UrgentTarget: 30 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 87%
  • CTAS 4 Less urgentTarget: 60 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 93%
  • CTAS 5 Non-urgentTarget: 120 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 98%
  • SCA Sudden cardiac arrestTarget: 6 minutes, 55% of the time
    Result: 51%

Dispatch

  • CTAS 1 ResuscitationTarget: 2 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 61%
  • SCA Sudden cardiac arrestTarget: 2 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 39%

Paramedics

  • CTAS 1 ResuscitationTarget: 8 minutes, 80% of the time
    Result: 74%
  • CTAS 2 EmergentTarget: 15 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 85%
  • CTAS 3 UrgentTarget: 30 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 86%
  • CTAS 4 Less urgentTarget: 60 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 92%
  • CTAS 5 Non-urgentTarget: 120 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 98%
  • SCA Sudden cardiac arrestTarget: 6 minutes, 55% of the time
    Result: 52%

Dispatch

  • CTAS 1 ResuscitationTarget: 2 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 63.1%
  • SCA Sudden cardiac arrestTarget: 2 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 75.3%

Paramedics

  • CTAS 1 ResuscitationTarget: 8 minutes, 80% of the time
    Result: 69.2%
  • CTAS 2 EmergentTarget: 15 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 86.5%
  • CTAS 3 UrgentTarget: 30 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 81.9%
  • CTAS 4 Less urgentTarget: 60 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 90.7%
  • CTAS 5 Non-urgentTarget: 120 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 97.6%
  • SCA Sudden cardiac arrestTarget: 6 minutes, 55% of the time
    Result: 48.5%

Dispatch

  • CTAS 1 ResuscitationTarget: 2 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 63.52%
  • SCA Sudden cardiac arrestTarget: 2 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 74.7%

Paramedics

  • CTAS 1 ResuscitationTarget: 8 minutes, 80% of the time
    Result: 70.81%
  • CTAS 2 EmergentTarget: 15 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 88.56%
  • CTAS 3 UrgentTarget: 30 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 84.45%
  • CTAS 4 Less urgentTarget: 60 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 93.28%
  • CTAS 5 Non-urgentTarget: 120 minutes, 90% of the time
    Result: 98.97%
  • SCA Sudden cardiac arrestTarget: 6 minutes, 55% of the time
    Result: 54.86%

Translation services

Niagara EMS subscribes to a translation service that offers our staff 24-hour access to interpreters in over 150 languages.

The caller, advanced emergency medical dispatcher and interpreter participate in a three-way call to figure out the best way to help. Our paramedics on scene also have access to this three-way calling service through our dispatch centre.

Help keep our paramedics safe

Niagara EMS paramedics and staff can face violence and harassment while on the job, which can take a toll on their health and wellbeing.

If you witness violence or threats against Niagara EMS paramedics or staff, call 911. To report harassment, call Niagara Regional Police at 905-688-4111.

Physical and sexual violence

Verbal abuse

Become a paramedic

Learn about certification requirements and the path to joining Niagara Emergency Medical Services as a paramedic.

Working in paramedic services

Share your experience with us

Have a question, concern, compliment or general inquiry? Use our online form to get in touch or report a missing item.

Contact Niagara EMS