Hospital emergencies

How to find out if you need to go to the emergency

Psychiatric emergencies 

Pediatric emergencies 

Is your life or that of someone you know in danger? 
Are you in urgent need of care? 
Go to the closest emergency department. 

How to find out if you need to go to the emergency department

If you're not sure you need to go to the emergency, call Info-Santé at 811. A nurse will answer your questions and refer you to the most appropriate resource. 
The emergency rooms of Montréal hospitals are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Here's the list of the emergency rooms of Montréal hospitals:

To find out where to go in the event of a medical emergency, you can also see the directory.

How does an emergency room operate?

Emergency room waiting times depend on the number of patients and the seriousness of their conditions. 

Emergency room process

  1. When you arrive, you have to register at the emergency's reception desk. 
  2. A nurse will evaluate your condition (this is called "triage") and determine the priority level of your case. 
  3. Depending on your priority level, you will be asked to return to the waiting room or wait on a stretcher until a doctor is available. 
  4. The doctor will evaluate your condition and provide the required treatment. 

If your condition does not require emergency services, go to a medical clinic such as one of the network clinics.

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Psychiatric emergencies

Psychiatric emergencies are primarily for people whose safety is in danger and need immediate help with a mental health-related crisis. Psychiatric emergencies do receiving, triage, medical and psychiatric evaluation, treatment and, if necessary, hospitalization. They are affiliated with a psychiatric or general hospital and are open 24/7, year-round.

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Pediatric emergencies

Before you go to the emergency

As a parent, you're the person who knows your child best, which means that you're also in a position to judge your child's health condition. However, it may be hard to determine how sick your child is and if you need to take him or her to the emergency. 

Listen to and observe your child carefully. Has there been a change in his/her breathing? Does he/she seem dehydrated? Is he/she completely lacking in energy? 

Certain signs can help you make a decision. 

See a doctor quickly if your child has a fever and one or more of the following symptoms is present:
  • if under three months of age, a rectal temperature of 38 °C or higher
  • if aged 3 to 6 months, a rectal temperature of 39 °C or higher
  • abundant vomiting
  • inconsolable crying
  • difficulty waking up when roused
  • pale or off-colour complexion
  • unresponsiveness to others
  • wheezy breathing
  • fever of 41.1 °C (106 °F) or higher
  • convulsions

Once you've arrived at the emergency

The nurse at the "triage" station will: 

  • evaluate your child's condition;
  • determine your child's priority level, based on a classification scale recognized and used throughout Canada;
  • after the evaluation, direct you to the appropriate place where your child can receive the necessary care; and 
  • periodically check up on your child over the phone to assess his/her condition, if necessary.

You, the parent, will: 

  • quickly alert the nurse if there is a change, and especially a worsening, of your child's condition.

The priority level the nurse assigned to your child will be one of the five levels on the Canadian Emergency Department Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS).

However, the CTAS cannot give any firm indication of waiting times, due to the number of unforeseeable factors. The triage nurse will tell you what your child's priority level is.

  • LEVEL 1
    • Immediate attention required (e.g., a child whose condition is life-threatening and who needs immediate care).
  • LEVEL 2 
    • Rapid attention required (e.g., a child whose condition requires rapid care). 
  • LEVEL 3
    • Attention required (e.g., a child whose condition requires rapid but not urgent medical attention). 
  • LEVEL 4 
    • Attention advisable (e.g., a child whose condition is stable, but who needs to be seen by a doctor).
  • LEVEL 5
    • Referable condition (e.g., a child whose problem is chronic or mild).
    • If the triage nurse to determine those that your child's condition is at Level 5, you're likely to face a long wait; ask where else you might go for medical attention.

If you decide to leave the emergency before seeing the doctor, please inform the nurse, who will give you your child's hospital card and advise you on alternate medical resources.

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The EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ... IS FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY!
You should only opt for a hospital emergency department if no medical clinics are open or your child's condition is serious. Otherwise, call Info-Santé and ask the nurse which medical clinics are open.

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