Emergency Numbers - Alberta
- Grace
- Sep 2
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 6
Emergency Numbers Every Nursing Student in Alberta Should Know
As future healthcare professionals, nursing students in Alberta need to be familiar with the province’s emergency numbers. Quick knowledge of these services can make a critical difference not only in clinical settings but also in everyday life when encountering emergencies outside of work or school.
Many Albertans don’t realize just how many specialized hotlines exist beyond 911. Whether it’s handling a wild animal in your yard, helping a distressed individual, managing poison exposure, or reporting non-emergency concerns, knowing who to call can save time—and sometimes lives.
Below is a guide to Alberta’s most important emergency and support numbers that every nursing student should have memorized.
📞 911 – The Universal Emergency Number
In Alberta (as in most of Canada), 911 connects you directly with dispatchers who can send police, ambulance, or fire services. Dispatchers can also link you to:
CSIS (when necessary)
👉 Key Tip for Nursing Students: Encourage patients and families to always call 911 first in an acute, life-threatening emergency. Dispatchers are trained to triage and redirect calls if another line is more appropriate.
📞 811 – Health Link Alberta
Health Link (811) is a free, 24/7 nursing advice and navigation line. Callers are connected with registered nurses who can provide:
Symptom-based triage and health advice
Dementia advice services
Dietitian support and medication information
Addiction and mental health resources
Tobacco cessation through AlbertaQuits
📚 Why Nursing Students Should Know: Understanding Health Link helps you guide patients with non-urgent needs away from ER visits and toward appropriate community resources.
📖 Source: Alberta Health Services – Health Link
📞 511 – Alberta Road & Travel Reports
Weather in Alberta can change in an instant. 511 Alberta provides live updates on road closures, traffic incidents, and travel advisories.
🚑 Clinical Relevance: As a nurse traveling between rural placements or clinical sites, calling 511 ensures safer commute planning.
📖 Source: 511 Alberta
📞 311 – Municipal Services
For non-emergency city services, 311 connects you with your local municipality. Common requests include:
Noise complaints
Bylaw questions
Garbage/recycling services
Local facility information
💡 Tip for Nurses in Training: If a patient mentions issues like unsafe housing, noise disturbances, or local service needs, guiding them toward 311 may help address social determinants of health.
211 Alberta is a 24/7 multilingual referral line for community health and social services, including:
Seniors’ home supports
Affordable childcare
Food and housing resources
Job search assistance
Addiction recovery referrals
💡 For Nursing Students: This line is critical when working with vulnerable populations—particularly in community health, psychiatry, or discharge planning.
📖 Source: 211 Alberta
Unique to Edmonton, #377 reduces unnecessary strain on 911 by redirecting non-life-threatening police calls, such as:
Thefts or vandalism
Noise disturbances
Missing persons reports
Family or neighbor disputes
Fraud complaints
🚨 Why It Matters in Practice: As a nurse in Edmonton, patients may share concerns that don’t require an ambulance. Knowing about #377 gives you the right tool to suggest.
📖 Source: Edmonton Police Service
📱 Smartphone Emergency SOS Features
Most smartphones now include an SOS function—activated by pressing the power button multiple times—that:
Dials 911 automatically
Sends your GPS location to emergency contacts
Shares preset medical info (via Medical ID or Health apps)
NOTE - To access this function on many smart devices, access your "Settings" then use the search icon and type in "SOS" this will allow you to set the function of the SOS system to your desired ability. We recommend having it on LOUD and with 5-8 power button taps. This will create a LOUD audible noise designed to deter assailants or wild animals and provide you with a second level of personal safety.
💡 Nursing Student Note: During clinical rotations, be aware that EMS often checks patients’ Medical ID on their phones for allergies, medications, or emergency contacts when they arrive unconscious.
📖 Source: Government of Canada – Get Prepared
Why This Knowledge Matters for Nursing Students
As future RNs and LPNs, you are not only caregivers in hospitals but also advocates for health and safety in the community. Knowing these numbers allows you to:
Educate patients about appropriate emergency resources
Reduce unnecessary ER visits by guiding people to the right service
Strengthen your own preparedness when on the road, at clinicals, or in public
Being resourceful in emergencies is a skill that sets excellent nurses apart.
References
Alberta Health Services – Health Link 811
Government of Alberta – 511 Alberta
Edmonton Police Service – #377 Non-Emergency
211 Alberta – Community Resources
Government of Canada – Emergency Preparedness
💡 Ready to Get Certified?
Be prepared. Be confident. Learn First Aid Today & Save a Life Tomorrow with Saving Grace Medical Academy Ltd. Now enrolling: Basic Life Support (BLS) & Standard First Aid CPR-C & AED courses designed for healthcare professionals.
📍 Training for First-Year Nursing Students
Join Saving Grace Medical Academy Ltd. for fully certified, CSA-compliant Standard First Aid CPR-C & AED courses—designed for Alberta’s future healthcare professionals.
Just Remember:
Protect Yourself. Call 911.Don’t Waste Time.
RESOURCES:
Author - Saving Grace Medical Academy Ltd
Grace. T
Medical Content Writer
