Emergency response in Greater Napanee is set to improve as a new dispatch system rolls out across southeastern Ontario this week.
At a council meeting on Jan. 29, Lennox and Addington Paramedic Chief Craig Jones announced that the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) will launch on Feb. 5, 2025. The system, used worldwide, helps 911 dispatchers assess emergency calls more accurately.
Jones said the upgrade will reduce unnecessary “lights and sirens” responses by about 70 percent, allowing ambulances to prioritize life-threatening cases. Calls will now be color-coded: purple for immediate emergencies and red for potentially serious cases.
Emergency officials say the change will make response times more efficient without delays. Local leaders and paramedics support the update, calling it a long-overdue improvement.
MPDS is already used in major Ontario cities like Toronto and Ottawa and is now becoming the standard across the province.
Written by Emily Chatwood
