Do you need immediate help in France? If you find yourself in need of assistance while in France, please read our emergency instructions and store them in a secure location, since it contains the necessary French emergency numbers.
No matter where you are in the world, being in a dangerous position may be scary. However, things might quickly turn far more terrifying if you are an expat living in a new country where the national language is not one you speak.
There is, however, no need for alarm. Our guide to the emergency numbers in France will ensure that you are prepared for any situation that may arise. This guide to French emergency numbers goes into great length on the following subjects:
French COVID-19
The current era of the COVID-19 outbreak has been difficult for everyone. Many individuals have lost touch with their family and friends back home. Finding out about the incidence of coronavirus infection, local restrictions, and vaccinations as a foreigner might be challenging. Vaccines are now easily accessible.
To learn more about the current coronavirus situation in France, including recommended vaccinations and any new limitations, check out the official Coronavirus (COVID-19) website.
If you want details on how the COVID-19 pandemic affects France in particular, you may look at our country-specific resource.
Information about French Emergency Services and Phone Numbers
The police, the firemen (sometimes called sapeurs-pompiers), and the medical service (SAMU) are the three principal emergency response organisations in France (Police Nationale or Gendarmerie Nationale). The following French phone numbers may be dialled from any phone in France during an emergency:
Medical service: 15
Police: 17
Fire service: 18
Calling the European emergency services number will also connect you to the French emergency services (112).
If you are in a life-threatening situation, please dial one of the numbers provided above immediately. Major medical emergencies, fires, and police reports all fall under this category.
Fire services in France
When an emergency arises in France, telephone 18 to reach les Sapeurs Pompiers, the fire and rescue department.
When there is an emergency, whether it is on the road or in a residence, the fire department is usually the first to respond. Response times in rural areas are often the shortest when dealing with any kind of emergency.
When additional emergency services are needed, the fire department coordinates with them. It works closely with the health department and employs both paid and volunteer medical, health, and safety brigades.
Police in France
Dial 17 from any phone to contact the police in an emergency.
When you dial 911, your call will be routed to the nearest emergency police station. The Police Nationale handles city life, while the Gendarmerie Nationale patrols the countryside.
The Police Nationale conducts the criminal investigation and performs other security-related duties, such as traffic control. French military authorities oversee the National Gendarmerie. Criminal investigations and security-related measures, such as those taken at airports and other military facilities, are within its purview.
Keep in mind that the emergency contact number for the local French police station may also be used for less urgent questions, so be sure to write it down. A supplementary municipal police force is typical in cities with a population of 50,000 or more (la police municipale). Municipal police have the power to deal with minor crimes and are generally tasked with enforcing local laws, such as those about traffic violations and stolen property.
French emergency numbers for accidents and healthcare
In the event of a medical or health-related emergency in France, the country's universal emergency number is 15.
SAMU, which stands for Services d'Aide Medicale Urgente, is France's national emergency response system. It sends out trained professionals to react to emergencies and staff ambulances and medical response teams.
About a hundred call centres, all run by various local health care providers, are headquartered at the SAMU. Professional medical personnel and French medical specialists staff the centres. The SAMU is also responsible for the daily operations of hundreds of SMUR teams (SMUR stands for "Service Mobile d'Urgence et Reanimation"), which provide emergency medical care in the field.
After receiving your call, the SAMU will determine the best course of action, which may include sending an ambulance, notifying an on-call physician, or suggesting that you see your doctor. Dial 116 117 to be connected to a doctor on call outside of regular office hours.
Even if your condition is not immediately life-threatening, you should visit the emergency room of your local hospital (urgences). This is something you should double-check before setting out on a trip since not all hospitals provide 24-hour emergency care.
The Maisons Medicales de Garde are another option (MMG). The MMG is available around the clock, seven days a week, to offer medical care. These centres are useful for primary care physicians and other medical professionals. But the MMG is not everywhere in the nation.
Mental health services in France
In France, you may receive help for your mental health by contacting your family doctor, a private counsellor, or one of the many charities and organisations dedicated to this field.
SOS Help is a French-English helpline for those who speak English but still need support with emotional or practical concerns. You may obtain help by dialling 0146 21 46 46, or you can check out the online instructions.
Counselling services are available on the website, as is a listing of English-speaking therapists and counsellors throughout France
The Red Cross provides anonymous counselling services in French (Croix Rouge Ecoute). Contact us at 0800 858 858 or check out our help centre here.
Services about drugs and alcohol in France
For immediate assistance with drug or alcohol dependency, please call the SOS hotline at (113).
In many cities around France, AA Europe has meetings in which only English is spoken. Learn more by searching the web.
In case you or someone you know needs help with alcoholism, AA France (Alcoholics Anonymous) offers a 24/7 helpline and weekly meetings all over the country (in French). Call 08 20 32 68 83 or go to their website to get in touch.
Écoute Alcool is a French alcoholism hotline where people may get confidential help. Call 0811 91 30 30.
In addition, certain French cities have Narcotics Anonymous (Narcotiques Anonyme) sessions in English. French speakers may reach the helpline at 01 43 72 12 72, or they can look up a wealth of material online.
Emergency contact information for poison control facilities in France
● Angers: 02 41 48 21 21
● Bordeaux: 05 56 96 40 80
● Grenoble: 04 76 76 56 46
● Lille: 08 25 81 28 22
● Lyon: 04 72 11 69 11
● Marseille: 04 91 75 25 25
● Nancy: 03 83 32 36 36
● Reims: 03 26 06 07 08
● Rennes: 02 99 59 22 22
● Rouen: 02 35 88 44 00
● Strasbourg: 03 88 37 37 37
● Toulouse: 05 61 77 74 47
Services for children, families, and young people in France
Helplines for victims of child abuse and female victimisation may be called at 119 and 3919, respectively. Known as the Croix Rouge Écoute, it is a crisis hotline run by the Red Cross (in French). Feel free to call us at 0800 858 858 or check out our website.
The SOS Missing Children hotline is 116 000, and their website is sosmissingchildren.org (SOS Enfants Disparus).
Crime-related services in France
What the French government is doing to aid victims of terrorist attacks
● Terror/kidnapping hotline: 197
● Rape hotline: 08 00 05 95 95
● Racial discrimination helpline: 114
● Victims of violent crime hotline: 08 10 09 86 09
● Domestic violence helpline: 3919
Utility and telecommunications services in France
France's electricity providers do not have a dedicated emergency hotline in French that works 24/7. Instead, some businesses provide round-the-clock service through regional helplines.
The regional number, which can be found on your statement, is important, so be sure you write it down.
In Paris, phone 01 43 35 40 87 if you have an issue with your gas service, and contact 01 43 35 40 86 if you have an issue with your power.
Road and traffic emergencies in France
In the case of a car crash or other emergency, the best course of action is to dial an emergency number in France.
After being involved in an accident, you must report it to the proper authorities promptly. If there are injuries from the incident, regardless of who was at fault, you must remain at the scene until the police arrive. Following an accident, you should move the car to a safe area and place the warning triangle 30 metres behind it.
Even if the collision was minor, you should still exchange information with the other motorist. This includes names, addresses, insurance information, and vehicle identification numbers. Witness statements and contact information might also be useful in an insurance dispute.
After a collision with a French car, you may be asked to fill out a "constat amiable," or "friendly statement." This includes not just a detailed written description of the incident, but also photographs that may serve as proof if required. If you do not understand French or if you do not agree with the statement, do not sign the form.
LGBTQ+ services in France
France is often regarded as one of Europe's most accepting countries for the LGBTQ+ community. Marriages between persons of the same gender have been legal since 2013. Many international LGBTQ+ organisations call the city of Paris home.
The French LGBT community has a centralised resource in the form of the Federation of LGBT Associations (Fédération des Associations & Centres LGBT), which not only provides a news outlet for the community but also maintains relationships with smaller, regional and local groups. Do some reading up on the topic on the web to find out more.
Le Centre Lesbian, Gay, Bi et Trans, Paris: 01 43 57 21 47 or online.
Those who have experienced homophobia may seek legal counsel from SOS Homophobie. Contact a French speaker at 01 48 06 42 41 or visit their website.
One such website that caters to LGBTQ+ travellers in France is Travel Gay Europe.
Homelessness services in France
You may get in touch with the homeless information hotline by dialling 115 or 0800 306 306, or you can look it up online.
When it comes to helping the homeless, no country does it better than France, which is why Depaul France exists. To get even more information, look at it online.
Animal services in France
Since its founding in 1845, the Society for the Protection of Animals (also referred to as the Société Protectrice des Animaux) has worked to improve the lives of animals in need. Contact us at 01 438 040 66 or go through our website for further info.
The Hope Association is a charity that provides funds to support pet adoption and foster care in the southwest of France. To get even more information, look at it online.
Numerous embassies and consulates are located in France to aid foreign tourists.
France is not only a popular tourist destination but also a popular place to settle for people from all over the globe, as shown by the fact that it hosts more than 600 foreign diplomatic missions and consulates.
Consulates and embassies for countries not listed here may be found on EmbassyPages.
You can find the Algerian embassy at 50 rue de Lisbonne in Paris. In the northern part of Africa sits the nation of Algeria. To get in touch with them, call +33 1 53 93 20 20. Algeria also has consulates in the French cities of Besancon, Bobigny, Bordeaux, Grenoble, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Metz, Montpellier, Nanterre, Nantes, Nice, Pontoise, Saint-Étienne, Strasbourg, Toulouse, and Vitry-sur-Seine.
Located at 13-15 avenue Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the German embassy in Paris may be easily reached. Germany To get in touch with them, dial +33 1 53 83 45 00. Germany has consulates in a number of other French towns, including Avignon, Bastia, Bordeaux, Brest, Dijon, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Metz, Montpellier, Nice, Perpignan, Rennes, Strasbourg, Toulouse, and Tours.
The Embassy of Morocco in France is located at 5 rue Le Tasse in Paris. Morocco. They may be contacted at +33 1 45 20 69 35. The cities of Bastia, Bordeaux, Colombes, Dijon, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Orléans, Orly, Pontoise, Rennes, Strasbourg, Toulouse, and Villemomble all have Moroccan consulates.
Address: 1 rue de Noisiel, Marais, Paris The Portuguese Embassy in France is located in the Marais section of Paris. If you need to get in touch with them, you may dial +33 1 47 27 35 29. Other French cities with Portuguese consulates include Ajaccio, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Dax, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Nantes, Nice, Pau, Rouen, Strasbourg, Toulouse, and Tours.
If you are a citizen of the United Kingdom and are in Paris, you may contact the British Embassy at 35 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. Their telephone number is +33 1 44 51 31 00. There are other British consulates in Bordeaux and Marseille.
Lost or stolen property in France
Lost and found objects in France must be reported to the appropriate department (objets trouves).
Paris's main lost-and-found office is located in the 15th district's rue des Morillons. An average year will see it amass 190,000 items, all of which will be warehoused for safekeeping.
To report a missing item, go online and fill out a form with details about the lost item, the area it was last seen in, and anything else you think could be relevant to the case. There is an €11 fee in addition to the cost of delivery if the service can track down your lost property. In addition, you may submit a discovery report directly via the site.
Mobile phones
While in France, if you lose your mobile phone, you should call your service provider right once to have the device disconnected. Additionally, if you think your phone was stolen, you should contact the authorities and provide them with your device's unique IMEI number.
Bank cards were misplaced.
If you lose your French bank card, the first thing you should do is get it frozen to prevent any unauthorised transactions. You may reach the national reporting centre at 08 92 70 57 05.
Listed here are the toll-free numbers for some of the most popular credit card companies in case of an emergency.
● Visa: 08 00 90 11 79
● Mastercard: 08 00 90 13 87
● American Express: 01 47 77 70 00
European-wide emergency numbers
The European emergency numbers are 112. (for hearing assistance).
These are the universal emergency numbers that may be called from any mobile phone free of charge in the case of an emergency. Because it is a European number, you may specify that you would want to talk to someone who speaks English. Those who are deaf or hard of hearing may also text the number 114 for assistance.
How to proceed while dialling the French national emergency number
Before calling for help during an emergency in France, keep the following tips in mind.
Provide your full name, contact information, the address or GPS coordinates of the area in need of help, a description of the situation, whether or not it is ongoing, the number of people affected, and whether or not firearms or illegal narcotics are in play.
Do not forget to write down your garage or apartment complex's entry code.
Please wait for the operator's approval before hanging up the phone.
You should be able to tell the operator in French if you have a medical problem or need to take medicine frequently.
Kid age and weight are both required when contacting a poison control centre or administering medication to a child.
When dealing with an inebriated person, it is important, to be honest about what was given to them and, if possible, to give them the rest of what they have already consumed.
More French phone numbers that might come in handy
What to do in an emergency and how to get help
● Hepatitis information helpline: 08 00 84 08 00
● AIDS helpline: 08 00 84 08 00
● Cancer Helpline: 08 10 81 08 21
● Dental helpline: 01 43 37 51 00
● Psychiatric emergency: 01 45 65 81 08
● Maritime emergency (calling from land): 196
● Maritime emergency (not inland): VHF Channel 16
● Aeronautical emergency: 191
● Find a duty pharmacy: 3237
● Medical advice line (SOS Médecins): 08 20 33 24 24 or online.
Non-medical response numbers
● Directory enquiries: 12
● Call collect: 3006
● Gas leak assistance: 01 40 33 80 60
● Emergency electrical services: 01 43 35 40 86
● Public services hotline (toll number): 39 39
Emergency numbers in Paris
● Emergency doctors (SOS Médicins): 01 43 37 77 77
● Dental emergencies: 01 43 37 51 00
● Out-of-hours chemists: 01 48 74 65 18 / 01 45 62 02 41
● Anti-poison centre: 01 40 05 48 48
● Spousal abuse hotline: 01 40 33 80 60
● Taxi Bleus: 01 49 36 10 10
Other helpful resources
The French government has launched a smartphone app that will alert consumers to possible threats, such as those posed by natural catastrophes, technological developments, and terrorist attacks. SAIP (Système d'alerte et d'information des populations) is a programme that may be used in either English or French. It displays alerts for eight different locations across the world.
You need not be alarmed on the first Wednesday of each month at noon when a siren will sound. All of the sirens in France are tested at once with three short blasts lasting almost two minutes, separated by five seconds of silence.
French words and phrases for many types of emergencies
Each member of the family should practise giving clear, succinct instructions when dialling a French emergency number. Having the ability to introduce yourself and provide your contact details in French is a necessary first step. Although finding an operator who is also proficient in English is not certain, it is always worth a shot.
If, however, French is not one of your languages, it is in your best advantage to find a reliable French speaker.
Police: La Police Nationale or gendarmerie
Fire brigade: Les sapeurs pompiers
Emergency services/ambulance: Service d'Aide Médicale d'Urgence or SAMU
Poisoning emergency: Urgence d'empoisonnement
Road emergency services: Services d'urgence routière
Emergency numbers: Numéros d'urgence
It’s an emergency: C’est un cas d’urgence.
Please call me by...: Je m’apelle…
The number to my cell phone is... Mon numéro de téléphone est…
I live at…: J'habite à…
Help!: Au secours!
Ambulance: une ambulance; J'ai besoin d'une ambulance. (I need an ambulance at this time.)
Heart attack: une crise cardiaque: Mon mari fait une crise cardiaque. (My husband had a heart attack.)
Stroke: une attaque cérébrale; Je pense que ma woman a souffert une attaque cérébrale. (My wife, I think, had a stroke.)
Choke: s'étouffer; Mon bébé s'étouffe. As in, "(My infant is attempting to suffocate.)
Haleter or difficulté à respirer is the French word for difficulty breathing or gasping. I am having trouble breathing. (I am having a harder time breathing.)
To bleed: saigner; Je saigne beaucoup. (My blood loss is significant.)
Hemorrhage: une hémorragie; Mon mari fait une hémorragie. (There was a bleed in my marriage.)
Concussion: une commotion cérébrale; My little kid just passed away. A-t-il une commotion cérébrale? My son had a little accident. A concussion?)
Diabetic: diabétique; Je suis diabétique. I need some insulin. I have to take insulin.
Labour: accouchement/accoucher; Ma woman accouche; la poche des eaux a percé. (The delivery of our baby is imminent. Her water has broken.)
To be poisoned: s'empoisonner; Mon enfant s’est empoisonné. They poisoned my child (or so it seems).