What to expect and how to prepare
General guidance for a typical Canadian ER visit — not medical advice, and not a substitute for what the staff caring for you tell you to do.
What to expect while you're waiting
- You'll be triaged first, not necessarily seen first. A nurse assesses how urgent your condition is using CTAS (see our About page) — that assessment, not arrival order, drives who gets seen next.
- Vitals get rechecked periodically. While you wait, staff may recheck your blood pressure, temperature, or pulse — this is normal monitoring, not a sign you're about to be seen.
- You may move between waiting areas. An initial waiting room, then a second area after initial assessment or tests, then a treatment space — this is a normal part of the flow, not a mistake.
- Tests often take longer than the "wait" itself. Blood work and imaging can take hours to come back, and you may wait again afterward for a doctor to review results with you.
- It's okay to flag a change. If your symptoms get noticeably worse while you wait, tell the triage desk right away — you don't need to just sit and wait it out.
- Long waits for non-urgent issues are common, not personal. If someone arrives after you and is seen first, it almost always means their condition was assessed as more urgent.
What to bring
- Your provincial health card (and photo ID if you have it)
- A list of current medications and dosages — or the medications themselves in their original containers
- A brief list of allergies and major past medical history, especially if it's complex
- Glasses, hearing aids, or mobility aids you normally use
- Phone charger — waits can run long
- A book, headphones, or something to pass the time
- A sweater or layer — ERs are often kept cool
- Contact info for a support person, in case staff need to reach someone on your behalf
What not to bring (or to be careful with)
- Valuables and large amounts of cash. ERs are busy public spaces without secure storage for personal belongings.
- A large group of visitors. Many Canadian ERs limit the number of people who can accompany a patient into treatment areas.
- Food or drink, without checking first. If a test or procedure requires you to fast, eating or drinking beforehand can delay your care — ask the triage nurse before consuming anything if you're unsure.
- One important exception: if the visit involves a suspected poisoning, overdose, or reaction to a substance or medication, bring the container or packaging with you rather than leaving it behind — it can meaningfully speed up treatment.