In an emergency, these are the telephone numbers to use in France – be prepared to indicate exactly where you are located, and the circumstances of the incident.
112 – The Emergency SOS help number in Europe
This is the standard European emergency number, you can call this number from anywhere in the European Union countries from your mobile, landline or payphone. 112 Emergency centres can use an interpretation service covering several languages. The European Commission website advises that if you are unable to tell the 112 operator where you are they will be able to locate you – within a few seconds for fixed calls and up to 30 minutes outside working hours for mobile calls so to help you to advise your location please see our useful words and phrases section.
From a landline or public payphone free of charge call:
17 – Police
15 – The national emergency number for medical aid. It will get you the SAMU service, with an ambulance (Service d’Aide Médical d’Urgence – or Medical Emergency Aid Service). Be prepared to indicate exactly where you are located, and the circumstances of the incident.
18 – Fire and fire ambulance service
Useful French vocabulary – words and phrases for an emergency
| Emergency | Une urgence |
| Help me | Aidez moi |
| Help | Au secours |
| My location is | Ma localité est |
| Child | Enfant |
| Elderly person | Personne âgée |
| Baby | Bébé |
| Accident | Un accident |
| I have had an accident | J’ai eu un accident |
| Need a doctor | Besoin un médécin |
| Need an ambulance | Besoin une ambulance |
| Fire | Feu |
| Heart attack | Crise cardiaque |
| Unconscious | Perdre connaissance |
| Very sick | Très malade |
| The house is on fire | La maison a pris feu |
| The car is on fire | La voiture a pris feu |
| I am in labour | Je suis en train d’accoucher |
| I am being burgled | Je suis en train de me faire cambrioler |
| Injured | Blessé(e) |
| Bleeding | Hémorragie |
