The Emergency Intervenor Service (EIS) program allows DBCS clients in Ontario to contact an intervenor if they are in an emergency situation.
An emergency situation is an unexpected, serious and/or dangerous situation that can cause an immediate risk to a person’s life, health or safety, requiring immediate attention. An emergency may involve the client who is Deafblind, their immediate family or caretaker, their service animal, or their property.
This service is funded by the Government of Ontario and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Contact CNIB’s Emergency Intervenor Program
In an Emergency
Toll-free phone: 1-855-862-6001
TTY: 1-855-862-5999
SMS: 905-745-7112
Email: cnibdbs@answerplus.ca
How the Service Works
When contacting Emergency Intervenor Services (EIS), clients will reach a call centre operator from AnswerPlus.
The operator will ask important questions to determine the client’s name, the nature and location of the emergency, and the client’s expressive and receptive communication method(s). The call centre operator will then contact an intervenor from the database or from the client’s preference list.
In some situations, first responders may call the EIS call centre on behalf of a person who is Deafblind (for example, the person is unconscious and is unable to contact the call centre themselves) using the information provided in the emergency communication kit.
Intervenor(s) will provide service until the emergency status is stabilized. At this point, the manager of CNIB Community Deafblind Services and the project lead for that area will coordinate regular intervenor services, if needed.
Emergency Intervenor Database
To help save time during emergencies, DBCS clients can register to have their personal information saved in the EIS Database.
By registering with this service, the operator will be able to immediately access the client’s file after asking their name – enabling the operator to rapidly provide the client’s address, contact information and communication preferences to first responders – saving critical time in emergency situations.
When registering, clients may also choose to indicate their intervenor preferences (for example, they may prefer working with a particular intervenor who they are familiar with, and who is fluent in their preferred communication method).
Communication Kits
Clients in Ontario who register with DBCS’s Emergency Intervenor Service, are also able to request Emergency Communication Kits.
The kits are designed to help facilitate basic and essential communication between the client and first responders or medical staff until an intervenor arrives. Clients are encouraged to keep the kit near the front entrance of their home so it can be easily located during an emergency.
A Communication Alert Card is attached to the front of the kit, indicating that the person has sight and hearing loss, and their preferred communication method(s).
Clients can use the Emergency Communication Kit and/or their own technical devices (i.e., a smartphone and refreshable braille display) to communicate with the first responder until an intervenor arrives.