Emergencies and the number 112 in France

The number 15 SAMU is for every medical emergency: severe chest pain, loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding, stroke, choking, a serious accident.

• The number 17 is for the police or gendarmerie for a crime in progress or danger or violence or urgent theft or a road accident.
• The number 18 is for fire and rescue in fire, accidents, leaks, drowning and dangerous animals.
• The European number 112 for all the above and in multiple languages.
• And 114 for the deaf by text message or fax.
• And 116 117 for medical duty for non-life-threatening cases at night and weekends, and 3237 the duty pharmacy.
• And 3919 for violence against women (free and anonymous 24 hours), 119 for child protection, 3114 for psychological crises and suicide, 115 for those without shelter.
• Save them in your phone and teach them to your family and children.

When calling remain calm and answer the operator's questions: where are you (the address, street, landmark or road number)?

• What happened?
• How many casualties and their condition?
• Are they conscious and breathing?
• What is your phone number?
• Speak slowly and clearly and do not hang up until told, since the operator may guide you to perform first aid by phone.
• If you do not speak French well state your language (Arabe, s'il vous plaît) and interpreters are available, or say 112 and you are routed to an operator with languages.
• If you cannot speak (danger) call and stay silent or press 114 by text message.
• And the Appel d'urgence 114 app and the what3words system help determine your location.
• And stay in a safe place until help arrives.
• And do not call for a non-emergency so as not to occupy the lines.

In a serious injury call 15 first then give first aid according to the operator's instructions.

• For heavy bleeding press firmly on the wound with a clean cloth.
• For one who has lost consciousness and is breathing place him on his side (position latérale de sécurité PLS).
• For one not breathing and unresponsive begin massage cardiaque, chest compressions on the centre of the chest at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute, and a défibrillateur (DAE) exists in public places giving voice instructions so use it. For burns cool the skin with cold water for 10 to 20 minutes and do not apply ointments.
• For choking encourage coughing then blows between the shoulders then the Heimlich manoeuvre.
• For stroke remember VITE (face, arm, speech and time) and call 15 at once.
• Do not move a casualty with a neck or back injury except for danger.
• And tell the paramedics of his medicines and allergies.
• And learn a PSC1 course free or low cost from the Red Cross.

In a fire: get out at once and do not gather your belongings or use the lift, and close the doors behind you, and call 18 from outside.

• Test the smoke detector and make an evacuation plan for your family.
• And in a crime in progress or personal danger call 17 and move away from danger.
• To file a complaint about a theft or non-urgent offence go to the commissariat or gendarmerie or start a pré-plainte en ligne via service-public.fr, and get a copy of the report (récépissé) to claim insurance.
• And in a road accident with injuries call 15 or 112 and switch on the hazard lights and put the warning triangle and wear the high-visibility vest, and do not move the injured.
• And in an accident without injuries fill a constat amiable (an amicable report) with the other party and both sign it and send it to the insurance company.
• And a vest and triangle must be carried in every car.

Domestic violence is a crime in France and you have the right to protection regardless of your residence status.

• If you are in immediate danger call 17 or 112, and for advice and support call 3919 (free, anonymous and available in languages) or send a text message to 114 or use arretonslesviolences.gouv.fr.
• You can request an ordonnance de protection, a protection order, from a judge in six days, and shelter for you and your children.
• And for children at risk 119.
• And for cases of forced marriage, female genital mutilation and trafficking special lines are available.
• And in a psychological crisis 3114 around the clock.
• And in natural disasters (flood, storm and heat) follow the instructions of the préfecture and FR-Alert messages on your phone, and head to the shelter centre.
• And there are industrial disasters (Seveso) and environmental warnings.
• And know your municipality's numbers.

What is the medical ambulance number?