In the past year, the Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services (MFES) responded to 23,556 emergency incidents, and the numbers may surprise you. While fires and accidents come to mind, it’s actually medical emergencies, rescues and other situations that make up the largest portions of the calls.

Fire Calls: Approximately 2.5%

• 45% of those fires occurred in areas without a smoke alarm on the floor where the fire started.

Pre-Fire Conditions: Approximately 2.3%

• Pre-fire conditions might include smoke, or overheating appliances.

False Alarms: Approximately 15%

• That’s about 4000 calls a year.

Understanding the types of incidents dealt with by the MFES, can help residents to take steps to improve their own safety and potentially reduce the number of emergency calls.

Here are three key actions that residents can take:

1. Install and Maintain Smoke Alarms

• With nearly half of fire incidents occurring in areas without a smoke alarm, it’s vital to install smoke detectors on every floor of your home and test them regularly to ensure they’re working properly. The general recommendation is to replace the batteries every six months and replace the entire detector every 10 years

2. Learn CPR and First Aid

• With the majority of emergency calls pertaining to medical matter, knowing first aid and CPR can make a critical difference in an emergency, particularly in cases of asphyxia or cardiac events.You can take CPR and First Aid Training with organizations like St John Ambulance and Red Cross.

3. Practice Safe Driving Habits

• Because vehicle collisions account for the majority of rescue calls, staying focused on the road, obeying traffic laws and minimizing distractions while driving can help prevent accidents and reduce the need for emergency rescues.

Being prepared in all areas- health, safety and prevention can help reduce the strain on emergency services and make our communities safer.

If you’d like more information, please visit the Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services page.