Description:

Emergency services: the numbers to call for Fire, Police and Ambulance.

What to do in an emergency:

Unlike the United Kingdom, you have a choice of numbers to phone depending on the emergency.  There is however a single number, which is used all over Europe that can be dialled free from any phone and the operator will then put you in contact with the appropriate service.  Do remember that the operator may not speak any English, so it is useful to have a phrase book handy.

When calling any emergency number, you will be asked for the following information:

• Your location and the location of the incident if different.
• Your name and telephone number
• The nature of the emergency - fire, road traffic accident, crime
• How many people need assistance

All emergency numbers can be reached from pay phones, without the use of a phone card or money. 

European SOS : Dial 112

Free from any phone.

By dialling 112, free from any phone including mobiles, an operator will put you in contact with the appropriate service.  It should only be used for life threatening emergencies. 

• Serious medical problems
• Any type of fire
• Life-threatening situations

There is a SOS112 website for further information.  

Medical emergencies : Dial 15

Free from landlines including pay phones.

This will put you in contact with the local SAMU (Service d'Aide Médicale d'Urgence).

Fire and Rescue Service : Dial 18

Free from landlines including pay phones.

This will put you in contact with the local Pompier

Police : Dial 17

Free from landlines including pay phones.

This will put you in contact with the National Police (Police Nationale).  This is the civil law enforcement agency of France.  They have with jurisdiction over cities and large towns and are under the management of the Ministry of the Interior.  They are responsible for security operations including patrols, traffic control, identity checks and conducting criminal enquiries.

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