When to call 911

See when you need to call 911, what happens when you call 911, and what numbers to call in non-emergencies.

Dial 911 in an emergency when you need immediate help from police, fire or ambulance services.

An emergency situation can include:

  • Medical emergencies such as someone experiencing chest pain or difficulty breathing
  • A fire that is not contained or controlled
  • A crime in progress like impaired driving or assault

What happens when you call 911

A 911 dispatcher will answer and ask if you need police, fire or ambulance.

You may need to provide exact location details. If you call from a cell phone, the dispatcher will only see your general location. Be prepared to provide an address or landmark where help is needed, apartment number, entry code, or any other detailed location information.

Listen carefully to the dispatcher, speak clearly, and remain calm.

Translation services

The 911 dispatcher can connect you to a translation service with more than 156 languages.

Accidental calls

If you’ve dialled 911 accidentally, do not hang up. Stay on the line to let the 911 dispatcher know your call was a mistake or pocket dial. If you hang up, 911 will call you back to confirm there’s no emergency.

If you don’t need immediate assistance from police, fire or ambulance, don’t call 911. Non-emergency situations include:

  • Burning complaints
  • Fire Code violations
  • Minor fuel spills
  • Noise complaints
  • Reporting a crime with no suspect, such as a stolen license plate
  • General questions and inquiries

Non-emergency contacts

You can call these non-emergency numbers if your situation is not an emergency:

Mississauga Fire Services: 905-456-5700
Peel Regional Police: 905-453-3311
Peel Region Paramedic Services: 1-800-668-7821
Telehealth Ontario: 1-866-797-0000