Words (Core Vocabulary)
- emergency / immediate danger / life-threatening
- dispatcher / call-taker / operator
- police / fire / ambulance / paramedics
- non-emergency line / report number / file number
- location / nearest intersection / landmark / unit/buzzer
- suspect description / plate number
- first aid / CPR / AED
- evacuation / shelter in place
- wellness check / noise complaint (non-emergency)
- triage / priority / response time
Phrases (Call → report → follow up)
911 (life-threatening)
- I need police/fire/ambulance. There’s [situation] at [address + unit/buzzer].
- The person is [age/sex] and [conscious/unconscious/breathing/not breathing].
- I’ll stay on the line—what should I do now?
Non-emergency
- I’d like to file a non-emergency report about [issue]. Is anyone in danger? No.
- Could I get a file number for my records?
After the call
- Could you confirm the ETA? I can meet responders at the entrance.
- Where can I send photos/video as evidence?
Contextual Examples (Natural, everyday)
- 911: There’s a house fire at 123 Pine St., Unit 402—alarms are sounding; everyone is evacuating.
- Non-emergency: I’d like to report vandalism discovered this morning—no one is in danger.
- Follow-up: Thanks—file number please, and next steps if I receive new info.
Collocations & Phrases (bold the key words)
Critical info
- state the exact location
- describe the incident
- report injuries/risks
- follow dispatcher instructions
Non-emergency
- call the non-emergency line
- request a file number
- submit evidence
- provide a statement
Support lines
- call 811 (health advice; province-specific)
- call 211 (community services)
- contact poison control (as posted in your region)
Canadian Cultural Context (How to sound natural & polite)
- Use 911 for emergencies only; otherwise use non-emergency.
- Give address + nearest intersection + unit/buzzer quickly; stay on the line until told to hang up.
- If safe, assign someone to meet responders at the entrance.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911 now.
Extra Mini-Patterns (plug-and-play)
- 911: “Ambulance needed—adult not breathing, CPR started, 123 Pine St., Unit 402, buzzer 042.”
- Non-emergency: “I’d like to report a break-in to my car overnight—no injuries; file number, please.”
- Evidence: “Where should I upload the video from our building camera?”