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Emergencies and emergency numbers in Germany

Notfall und Notruf

112 calls the fire brigade and ambulance, 110 the police. The call is free and you only have to say calmly where it happened.

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Overview

In an emergency there is no time to look for information, so it is better to memorise the key numbers and know what to say before you need it. Germany has an ambulance, fire and police system that is fast and free for everyone, including people without insurance or papers. Someone who calls for an ambulance is not asked about their residence status.

This guide explains the numbers you need, how the call goes in German, which other services are available in Arabic and how to act until help arrives.

1

The key numbers

112 is the European emergency number for ambulance and fire and works across Germany, free even from a phone without credit.

  • 110 is for the police in case of crime or danger.
  • 116117 is the on-call medical service for complaints that cannot wait but are not life-threatening, at night and on holidays.
  • There is also a poison information number in each state for poisoning by a product or medicine, the number 116 016 to help women facing violence, which works around the clock and answers in several languages including Arabic, and 116 111 for children and young people.
2

How the call goes

When the operator answers, speak calmly in the shortest sentences.

  • A rule of five questions is recommended: where it happened (the exact address or nearest landmark), what happened, how many people are hurt, what kind of injuries or danger there is, and wait for further questions and do not hang up before the operator tells you to. Begin with a sentence such as Es gibt einen Unfall.
  • If your German is limited, say Bitte Englisch or give the address and the word for the event and repeat it slowly, since operators are trained to handle stressed callers.
3

First aid

Before the ambulance arrives, stay with the injured person and keep them calm.

  • If they are unconscious but breathing, put them in the recovery position.
  • If they are not breathing, start chest compressions at one hundred to one hundred and twenty a minute while waiting for the ambulance, and the operator guides you by phone.
  • Stop bleeding with direct pressure.
  • Every driver must take a first-aid course for a driving licence, so many bystanders will help.
  • Failing to help is an offence under the law, while helping protects you legally even if you make an honest mistake.
4

Hospital and costs

The injured person is taken to the nearest suitable hospital and received in the emergency department (Notaufnahme), where treatment priority is set by severity, not by arrival, so you may wait if your condition is milder.

  • Nobody is refused in an emergency for lack of insurance.
  • For statutory patients the health fund covers transport and treatment, with a small co-payment per day of stay or transport.
  • Bring your card and documents if possible, and if you cannot they will be requested later.
  • Do not hesitate to ask for an interpreter or someone who speaks your language, since many hospitals keep lists of interpreters.
5

Prevention at home and on the road

The law requires smoke alarms (Rauchmelder) in bedrooms and corridors of every flat, so check that they exist and that the batteries work.

  • Keep emergency numbers, your medicine list and your address written near the phone and teach them to your children.
  • When you hear a fire alarm, leave the flat at once without taking belongings and do not use the lift.
  • On motorways cars open a lane for ambulances (Rettungsgasse) when traffic is congested, so do the same.
  • There are official emergency apps that send your location, such as the nora app.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Save 112, 110, 116117 and 116016 in your phone now.

  2. 2

    In an accident make sure you are safe first and then call the right number.

  3. 3

    Say where, what, how many injured and what kind of danger, then wait for the operator's questions.

  4. 4

    Stay with the injured person and give first aid as the operator instructs.

  5. 5

    Send someone to guide the ambulance at the building entrance if possible.

  6. 6

    After the incident keep the hospital papers and inform your employer and insurer.

Documents checklist

  • The health insurance card and ID.
  • A list of medicines, allergies and blood group.
  • Emergency numbers and the numbers of your relatives.
  • Your address written in German.

Key vocabulary

  • derNotruf
    emergency call
  • derKrankenwagen
    ambulance
  • dieFeuerwehr
    fire brigade
  • diePolizei
    police
  • derUnfall
    accident
  • derVerletzte
    injured person
  • dieErste Hilfe
    first aid
  • dieNotaufnahme
    emergency department
  • derRauchmelder
    smoke alarm
  • dieRettungsgasse
    emergency lane
  • derGiftnotruf
    poison emergency number

Useful phrases

  • Ich brauche einen Krankenwagen.I need an ambulance.
  • Es gibt einen Unfall in der Hauptstraße.There is an accident on Hauptstraße.
  • Es brennt in meinem Haus.There is a fire in my house.
  • Zwei Personen sind verletzt.Two people are injured.
  • Er atmet nicht mehr.He is no longer breathing.
  • Bitte kommen Sie schnell.Please come quickly.

A call to 112

  • Leitstelle

    Notruf 112, was ist passiert?Emergency 112, what has happened?

  • Sie

    Es gibt einen Unfall. Ein Mann ist gestürzt und blutet am Kopf.There is an accident. A man has fallen and is bleeding from the head.

  • Leitstelle

    Wo sind Sie? Nennen Sie bitte die genaue Adresse.Where are you? Please give the exact address.

  • Sie

    Bahnhofstraße zwölf, vor der Apotheke.Bahnhofstraße twelve, in front of the pharmacy.

  • Leitstelle

    Ist er bei Bewusstsein? Bleiben Sie bei ihm, der Rettungswagen kommt.Is he conscious? Stay with him, the ambulance is coming.

  • Sie

    Ja, er spricht mit mir. Ich bleibe hier.Yes, he is talking to me. I will stay here.

Common mistakes

  • Hanging up before the operator allows it, so that they lose information they need.
  • Calling 116117 in a life-threatening case instead of 112, which delays the ambulance.
  • Not giving the exact address or the street and district, so that the ambulance loses time searching.
  • Fearing to call because of your residence status, when the ambulance treats everyone.

Cultural tips

  • Learn to write and say your address in German, which is the most important sentence on the call.
  • Take a first-aid course, since many organisations run them for a token price or free of charge.
  • Look for the locations of defibrillators (AED) in public places.
  • Put the emergency list on the fridge door so that anyone at home can find it.

Official links

Check yourself

Question 1 of 5

Which number is for ambulance and fire?