Emergency Numbers in France
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Whether you are moving to France or visiting for a short period of time, knowing these emergency numbers will help you to be prepared and stay safe in the event of an accident, a health concern or an emergency. Find out who to call, and what to say if you encounter an emergency situation in France.
The European Emergency Assistance Number
When in any doubt, dial the European Emergency Number at 112. Operators responding to this number will be able to communicate with you in French or in English, offer assistance and can redirect your call to the appropriate emergency service where necessary.
French Emergency Numbers
| Service | Number | When to call this number |
|---|---|---|
| European Emergency Number | 112 | For any situation that requires fire rescue, an ambulance, or the police |
| Hearing Assisted European Emergency Number | 114 | For any situations requiring fire/rescue, an ambulance, or the police |
| Fire | 18 |
For situations requiring rapid interventions/rescue, such as:
|
| Police | 17 |
To report a crime that requires an immediate police response, such as:
|
| SAMU (Service d'aide médicale urgente - ambulance) | 15 |
Call the SAMU for a response to critical health and medical situations, which may include:
|
| Maritime Emergency/Coastguard | 196 |
Call 196 to reach the French coastguard (centre opérationnel de surveillance et de sauvetage en mer - CROSS), as either a witness to or victim of:
|
| Emergency Shelter/SAMU Social | 115 | Call 115 if you risk homelessness. You can also call 115 to report anyone who appears to be in social distress |
| Child Protection | 119 | Call this number to reach the Service national d'accueil téléphonique de l'enfance en danger (SNATED) and report a child in danger (or risk of being in danger) |
| Missing Child | 116 000 | This is the CFPE-Enfants Disparus number, which responds to reports of missing children |
| Terror/Kidnapping Hotline | 197 | Created in August, 2015, this number is for reporting events of terrorism or hostage-taking |
| Aeronautical Emergencies | 191 | This number is for reporting situations of aircraft in distress |
What to say during an emergency call
It is important to be as clear as possible when making a call to report an emergency situation. Don't forget to specify:
- Who you are: state your name and a phone number from which you can be reached. Specify whether you are a victim or a witness.
- What has happened, and how many people are involved
- When you arrived at the scene, and whether the incident is still happening
- Where you are: providing an address or directions to your location will help ensure assistance reaches you quickly
- Don't forget to specify whether weapons were involved
French Emergency Vocabulary
Below is a list of terms you may find helpful in the event of an incident.
| English | French | English | French |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | Un accident | Ambulance | Une ambulance |
| Bandages | Pansements | Bleeding | Hémorraghie |
| Burn | Une brûlure | Chest pain | Douleur thoracique |
| To choke | S'étouffer | CPR | RPC |
| Difficulty breathing | Difficultés respiratoires | Discomfort | Malaise |
| Emergency | Urgence | Food poisoning | Intoxication alimentaire |
| First Aid | Premiers secours | Fracture | Une fracture |
| Heart Attack | Une crise cardiaque | Healing | Guérison |
| Help! | Aidez-moi/Au secours! | Infection | Une infection |
| Infection | Une infection | Injury | Une blessure |
| Labour | Un accouchement | Poison | Poison |
| Shock | Un choc | Sprain | Une entorse |
| Stroke | AVC | Unconscious | Inconscient |
| Wound | Une plaie | X-ray | Radiologie |
| English | French | English | French |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assault | Attaque/Agression | Attack | Attentat |
| Burglary | Cambriolage | Car accident | Accident de la route/ Accident de voiture |
| Drowning | Noyade | Fire | Feu/Incendie |
| Firefighter | Sapeur-pompier | Help me! | Au secours/Aidez-moi |
| Police | La police | Police officer | Policier |
| Shooting | Fusillade | Sexual assault | Agression sexuelle |
| Weapon | Une arme | ||