Move to the Right for Sirens and Lights
Watch Halton Region Emergency Medical Services' video on the proper steps to take when an emergency vehicle is approaching.
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Halton Region’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Primary Care Paramedics and Advanced Care Paramedics provide emergency medical services to residents in Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton, and Oakville. The typical cost of an ambulance trip is $45 to the patient, but there are some exceptions .
What is Halton Region's Emergency Medical Services?
- In Halton, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from 11 stations located throughout the region in Burlington, Halton Hills (Georgetown & Acton), Oakville, and Milton.
- The service is comprised of 150 paramedics with a fleet of 34 emergency response vehicles.
- Halton Region EMS responds to over 50,000 call for service annually servicing over 450,000 Halton residents.
- Medical direction and regular training provided by Sunnybrook - Osler Centre for Prehospital Care ensures that paramedic skills are current and well practiced.
- Halton Region EMS has a number of tactical paramedics who work closely with the Halton Region Police Tactical Rescue Unit to provide emergency medical support during high-risk situations.
- Halton Region EMS also deploys a Bike Medic patrol to various community events held annually throughout the region, which enables paramedics to respond to emergencies in small, contained areas that might not be accessible by an ambulance vehicle.
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What is a Primary Care Paramedic and Advanced Care Paramedic?
- All paramedics provide basic life support, and some advanced life support skills. All paramedics provide cardiac defibrillation and the administration of symptom relief medications.
- An Advanced Care Paramedic is trained to provide additional Advanced Life Support (ALS) skills. Advanced Care Paramedics can perform a number of controlled medical acts and provide a wider range of pre-hospital treatment options to patients.
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What public education and safety awareness programs are offered by Halton EMS?
- One of the larger public awareness programs promoted by EMS is Halton’s Public Access Defibrillation program which focuses on coordinating the placement of Automated External Defibrillators (AED) in strategic locations throughout the community where there is a chance someone could suffer a cardiac arrest.
- To learn more about this program, visit our section on public access defibrillation.
In addition to public access defibrillation, paramedics provide education about:
- CPR and the Chain of Survival
- Car Seat Safety
- Injury Prevention – Paramedics participate in programs such as RiskWatch , which is delivered to elementary school level children. They also participate in CHAT (Community & Hospital Against Trauma), an awareness program designed to inform teens about the dangers of risk taking behaviors such as speeding, cliff jumping, mixing alcohol/drugs with driving, swimming etc.
- Paramedics also work closely with the Early Years program, in providing education for new parents on prevention of childhood injuries and first aid and CPR techniques.
- Paramedics regularly conduct presentations/demonstrations at schools and community events across Halton.
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Does Halton EMS offer CPR training?
Halton EMS offers CPR training to any community group of 12 or more people. All CPR courses focus on the 7 links in the Chain of Survival. To learn more about CPR training and how you can arrange for a training course, visit our section on CPR.
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What is the Bike Medic program?
The Bike Medic program enables paramedics to respond to emergencies in small, contained areas that might not be accessible by an ambulance vehicle.
- Bike Medics carry equipment that allows them to treat the same life threatening emergencies as a regular paramedic crew.
- Bike Medics are a regular feature at many large community events in Halton, such as the annual Sound of Music festival in Burlington and Waterfront festival in Oakville.
- In addition to providing emergency medical services, the Bike Medics promote bike safety to children and the public.
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How can I become a paramedic?
All paramedics must take a two-year college level Primary Care Paramedic course. Following successful completion of the required college diploma, prospective candidates must undergo a certification process administered by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC), before becoming paramedics. To learn more, visit our page on recruitment.
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