In an emergency 112 is the general emergency services number or 114 for hearing assisted.
You can also dial direct to the service you need:
| 15 | Serious medical – SAMU. A doctor will asses the emergency response needed |
| 17 | Police – (commissariat de police or gendarmerie) |
| 18 | Fire brigade (Sapeurs Pompiers) for fire, traffic and domestic accidents |
| 112 | Sea and lake emergencies (calling from land) |
| 1616 | VHF Channel 16 (calling from the sea) |
| 119 | Child in danger |
| 116 000 | Missing child |
| 08 00 05 95 95 | Rape hotline |
When you call you will be asked to:
- State the location where assistance is needed
- State your name and telephone number
- State what happened, and if it is still happening
- State how many people need help
- State if there are weapons involved
All emergency numbers are free so can be dialled from pay phones and mobiles, without the use of a phone card, money or credit.
- Medical but not an emergency? See our Holiday health help page.
Useful emergency phrases
It is usual for the emergency services and doctors to speak English but it is also reassuring to know a few key emergency phrases:
| It’s an emergency | C’est un cas d’urgence | |
| My name is | Je m’apelle | |
| My telephone number is | Mon numéro de téléphone est | |
| I live at | J’habite à | |
| Need a doctor | Besoin un médecin (Il me faut un médecin) | |
| Need an ambulance | Besoin une ambulance (Il me faut une ambulance) | |
| Accident | Un accident | |
| I have had an accident | J’ai eu un accident | |
| Injured | Blessé(e) | |
| Unconscious | Perdre connaissance | |
| Bleeding | Hémorragie | |
| Heart attack | Crise cardiaque | |
| Stroke | AVC (Un accident vasculaire cérébral) (pronounced “aiy vaiy caiy”) | |
| Drowning | Noyade (se noyer) | |
| Burn | Brûlure | |
| Very sick | Très malade | |
| In labour/having contractions | Avoir contractions | |
| I am in labour | Je suis en train d’accoucher | |
| Fire | Feu | |
| The house is on fire | La maison a pris feu | |
| The car is on fire | La voiture a pris feu | |
| Burglar/intruder | Cambrioleur/Intrus | |
| I am being burgled | Je suis en train de me faire cambrioler | |
| Someone is in the house | Quelqu’un est chez moi (Quelqu’un est entré par effraction chez moi) | |
| Emergency | Une urgence | |
| Help me | Aidez moi | |
| Help! | Au secours |