Health and Medical Facilities

Emergency Care

For emergency treatment in both Whistler and Vancouver, dial 911.


What happens when you call 911?

The first question you will be asked is, "Do you require Police, Fire or Ambulance"? If an ambulance is required, the following questions will be asked in this order:

  1. What city are you calling from?
  2. What is the address of the emergency?
  3. What is the phone number you are calling from?
  4. What is the problem — tell me exactly what happened?
  5. Are you with the patient now?
  6. How old is he/she?
  7. Is he/she conscious?
  8. Is he/she breathing?

When reporting any incident to 911, the important things to remember are:

  • Try not to panic, and if you can't help it then at least try to speak clearly
  • Answer the call-taker's questions patiently and completely
  • Understand that there is a reason for every question asked
  • Never hang up during a 911 call

Urgent Care
Any non-life-threatening situation that requires immediate medical attention can be served best at the nearest urgent care centre. A list of these centres will be available in the fall of 2009.


Non-Urgent Care
Urgent care centres or clinics offering same-day appointments can be used for non-urgent care, such as prescription refills.


HealthLinkBC
HealthLink BC provides access to non-emergency health information and services in British Columbia by dialing 8-1-1. Registered nurses are available 24/7 to help you with non-emergency health concerns, to discuss symptoms and procedures, or to recommend seeing a doctor or going to a hospital. Pharmacists are on call nightly from 5:00 pm to 9:00 am to help with medication questions when your community pharmacist may be unavailable. Dietitians are also available weekdays to discuss your dietary concerns and share nutrition advice. The website, www.HealthLinkBC.ca, has medically approved information on over 4,000 heath topics and 2,500 services in its searchable database. Any time of day or night, every day of the year, HealthLink BC is as close as your phone or the internet.

  • HealthLinkBC: dial 8-1-1
  • HealthLinkBC for Deaf and hearing impaired: dial 7-1-1

Translation services are available in more than 130 languages, upon request.


Poison Control - “Don’t Guess, Be Sure.”
The Poison Control Centre provides a 24-hour telephone information line on first aid and treatment of suspected poisonings. These lines are staffed by specially trained nurses and pharmacists. Medical toxicologist consultation is also available.  

  • Poison Control toll free in BC: 1.800.567.8911
  • Poison Control in Metro Vancouver: 604.682.5050

Hospitals
Canadian hospitals and medical services provide an excellent standard of care. Hospital care for non-residents of Canada is charged at a daily rate or calculated based on medical condition and length of stay. Hospital emergency rooms are open 24 hours a day for emergency care.


The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) has designated two hospitals for treatment and care of the Olympic Family and spectators of the 2010 Winter Games.

Games spectator hospital
St. Paul’s Hospital
1081 Burrard St
Vancouver
Telephone: 604.682.2344

Olympic and Paralympic family hospital
Vancouver General Hospital
855 West 12th Ave
Vancouver
Telephone: 604.875.411

The following are additional hospitals located in the Lower Mainland, Richmond, Whistler and the Sea to Sky corridor.

Lower Mainland:

UBC Hospital
2211 Westbrook Mall
Vancouver
Telephone: 604.822.7121

Mount Saint Joseph Hospital
3080 Prince Edward St
Vancouver
Telephone: 604.874.1141

Richmond:

Richmond Hospital
7000 Westminster Highway
Richmond
Telephone: 604.278.9711
This hospital is conveniently located near the Richmond Olympic Oval.

Sea to Sky corridor:

Lions Gate Hospital
231 15th Street East
North Vancouver
Telephone: 604.984.5987

Squamish General Hospital
38149 Behrner Drive          
Squamish.
Telephone: 604.892.5211

Pharmacies
Pharmacies are also easily accessible throughout Canada. Most large cities have at least one 24-hour pharmacy operation. Many grocery stores have in-store pharmacies.

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