Ensuring a secure living environment is essential for peace of mind. Our Home Safety Vancouver Guide provides practical emergency preparedness tips and immediate action steps for home break-ins, fires, and scams.

Essential emergency contacts in BC

911 – Life-Threatening Emergencies / Crimes in Progress / Fire

• Best Used For: Immediate medical crises (e.g., a solo dweller experiencing a sudden heart attack) or active security threats (e.g., a break-in or home intrusion).

811 – HealthLink BC (Non-Emergency Medical Advice)

• Best Used For: Situations where an independent resident experiences symptoms like a high fever or severe vomiting late at night and is unsure whether to visit the ER or self-medicate. Registered nurses and pharmacists are available 24/7 for free guidance (free Chinese interpretation is available upon request).

211 – bc211 (Province-Wide Community & Government Resource Navigation)

• Best Used For: When an individual living alone faces severe daily hardships and urgently needs essential supports like food banks, clothing, free legal aid, or emergency shelters. Calling 211 connects you to the nearest community service hubs.

988 – Suicide Crisis Helpline (National Mental Health Support)

• Best Used For: Urgent psychological rescue when solo dwellers, international students, or newcomers experience overwhelming loneliness, severe depression, or self-harming thoughts late at night. Services are primarily available in English and French; while alternative languages are supported during certain hours, Chinese coverage may be limited.

BC Hydro：1-800-224-9376
FortisBC Natural gas leak（24hr）：1-800-663-9911
Metro Vancouver Transit Police（Bus、SkyTrain non-emergency）：604-515-8300，text: 87-77-77