Media Release

December 16, 2009

ATTENTION: NEWS / HEALTH EDITORS

How to Get Emergency Medical Care this Holiday Season

At a time of year when family doctors reduce their hours or close their offices, it’s important for you to know how and where to access health services, should you get sick or have an accident.

If you require emergency medical care, please call 911 or go to the emergency department.  However, if your condition is non-urgent, to avoid a long wait, you may want to make an appointment with your doctor. Please check with your doctor’s office to find out when they will be seeing patients.  If your doctor is not available, you may wish to go to a walk-in clinic for NON-URGENT medical care.

Know when it is an emergency.
Sometimes it is difficult to know if your problem is an emergency. If unsure, you may wish to call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 for free access to a registered nurse who will help with any health related question. They are available 24 hours a day.  Here are a few examples of when you require emergency medical care:

• When you are experiencing pains or tightness in the chest, shortness of breath or any severe pain
• When you think you may have fractured or broken a bone, or have a wound that may need stitches
• When you have sudden, severe headaches, vision problems, sudden weakness, numbness and/or tingling in the face, arm or leg, trouble speaking, or dizziness
• When a person is choking or having difficulty breathing
• If your child has diarrhea and vomiting and won’t eat or drink
• When a baby under six months has a fever over 37.9°C or 100°F
• When a child over six months has a fever over 38.5°C or 101°F
• If experiencing any of these symptoms, go directly to the emergency department or call 911.

Be prepared for any emergency.

• Update emergency telephone numbers and post in a visible place, such as your refrigerator.
• Ensure that your family has enough medical supplies and medications - prescription and non-prescription.  Also make sure inhalers, respirators, oxygen and glucose testing machines are in good working order.
• Know where your nearest 24-hour pharmacy is located.
• Remind visiting family members and friends to bring their health cards or health coverage documents with them.

If you go to the Emergency Department, please be patient.
Patients are seen by a doctor in order of their need, not their time of arrival. Please remember to bring your Ontario Health Insurance card and a list of your medications.

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS
For serious conditions that require immediate attention, go to the nearest Emergency Department or call 9-1-1. 

Credit Valley Hospital
Emergency Department
2200 Eglinton Avenue West (at Erin Mills Parkway)
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Trillium Health Centre – Mississauga
Emergency Care Centre
100 Queensway West (at Hurontario St)
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

If you need to see a physician for a non life-threatening condition about which you would normally see a family doctor or visit a walk-in-clinic, the Urgent Care Centre can help you.

URGENT CARE CENTRE
Trillium Health Centre – West Toronto
150 Sherway Drive (off The West Mall, across from Sherway Gardens Shopping Centre)
Open 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m., 7 days a week

If your child requires attention for a non life-threatening condition and your paediatrician or family doctor is not available, visit Trillium’s Kid’z Klinic, a walk-in clinic for children, during the following holiday schedule.

KID’Z KLINIC – HOLIDAY HOURS
Trillium Health Centre – Mississauga
100 Queensway West (located within the Family Care Centre)
Phone: 905-848-7174

• December 24: 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
• December 25: Closed
• December 26: 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
• December 27: Closed
• December 28 - 30: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
• December 31 - January 3: 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Have a safe and healthy holiday season!

For more information, go to www.cvh.on.ca or  www.trilliumhealthcentre.org.

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Media Contacts:

Wendy Johnson
Chief, Communication and Public Affairs
The Credit Valley Hospital
905-813-2617
wjohnson@cvh.on.ca

Larry Roberts
Media Relations Consultant
Trillium Health Centre
Office: 905-848-7580 ext. 3832
lroberts@thc.on.ca

Media Contacts

For all media enquiries, please call Public Relations at 905-848-7580 ext. 3832.