French Emergency Numbers — Les Numéros d'Urgence
The most important thing you can do before any trip to France is memorise the emergency numbers. Save them in your phone and write them somewhere physical — a card in your wallet — as a backup. In a genuine emergency, you do not want to be searching your phone for the right number.
| Number | Service | When to Call |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | SAMU — Service d'Aide Médicale Urgente | Medical emergencies — ambulance, urgent medical advice |
| 17 | Police / Gendarmerie | Crime, theft, accidents with injuries, security threats |
| 18 | Pompiers — Fire Brigade | Fire, rescue operations — also respond to medical emergencies |
| 112 | Numéro d'urgence européen | Single European emergency number — works for all services, in all EU countries |
| 115 | SAMU Social | Homeless / social emergency |
| 3114 | Numéro national de prévention du suicide | Suicide prevention helpline — 24/7 |
Use 112 If in Doubt
If you are ever in doubt which number to call, dial 112. It works across all EU countries, can be dialled from any mobile phone even without a SIM or signal, and operators will redirect you to the appropriate service. In France, 112 operators speak English.
Calling for Help — Appeler à l'Aide
These are the phrases you may need to shout, say urgently, or communicate in the first moments of an emergency. Learn them until they are truly automatic — in a crisis, you need language that is immediately accessible, not something you have to think about.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Au secours ! | Help! |
| Appelez le 15 / 17 / 18 ! | Call 15 / 17 / 18! |
| Appelez une ambulance ! | Call an ambulance! |
| Appelez la police ! | Call the police! |
| Appelez les pompiers ! | Call the fire brigade! |
| Au feu ! | Fire! |
| Au voleur ! | Stop thief! |
| Il y a un accident ! | There's been an accident! |
| Quelqu'un est blessé ! | Someone is injured! |
| Quelqu'un est inconscient ! | Someone is unconscious! |
| Ne le déplacez pas ! | Don't move him/her! |
| J'ai besoin d'aide immédiatement ! | I need help immediately! |
Medical Emergencies — Urgences Médicales
France has an excellent public healthcare system. The SAMU (number 15) operates a medical emergency coordination service with medically qualified operators who can assess your situation over the phone, give immediate advice, and dispatch appropriate medical assistance. When calling, speak clearly and slowly, give your location first, and describe what is happening.
Describing Symptoms and Injuries
| French | English |
|---|---|
| J'ai mal à la poitrine. | I have chest pain. |
| J'ai du mal à respirer. | I'm having difficulty breathing. |
| Il / Elle a perdu connaissance. | He / She has lost consciousness. |
| Il saigne beaucoup. | He is bleeding heavily. |
| Je pense qu'il a eu une crise cardiaque. | I think he has had a heart attack. |
| Je pense qu'elle a eu un accident vasculaire cérébral. | I think she has had a stroke. |
| Il s'est cassé la jambe. | He has broken his leg. |
| Elle est tombée. | She has fallen. |
| Je suis diabétique / épileptique / allergique à… | I am diabetic / epileptic / allergic to… |
| J'ai mes médicaments ici. | I have my medication here. |
| J'ai une allergie grave aux arachides. | I have a severe peanut allergy. |
| J'ai besoin d'un médecin. | I need a doctor. |
| Où est l'hôpital le plus proche ? | Where is the nearest hospital? |
| Où est la pharmacie de garde ? | Where is the duty pharmacy? |
The Duty Pharmacy — La Pharmacie de Garde
French pharmacies operate a duty rota so that there is always one open in any given area, even at night and on Sundays. Look for the green cross sign. If the nearest pharmacy is closed, a notice on the door will direct you to the nearest pharmacie de garde (duty pharmacy). You can also dial 32 37 (from a French number) or check the local prefecture website.
Reporting Theft or Crime — Signaler un Vol ou un Crime
Pickpocketing and bag snatching occur in tourist areas of French cities, particularly Paris. If you are a victim of theft or crime, you need to report it to the police both to have any chance of recovery and to obtain a police report (un procès-verbal) for insurance purposes.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| On m'a volé mon portefeuille / sac / passeport / téléphone. | My wallet / bag / passport / phone has been stolen. |
| J'ai été victime d'un vol. | I have been the victim of a theft. |
| J'ai été agressé(e). | I have been assaulted. |
| Où est le commissariat de police ? | Where is the police station? |
| Je voudrais porter plainte. | I would like to report a crime / file a complaint. |
| J'ai besoin d'un procès-verbal pour mon assurance. | I need a police report for my insurance. |
| Cela s'est passé à… (heure / lieu) | It happened at… (time / place) |
| Le/la voleur/se était… (description) | The thief was… (description) |
Lost Documents — Documents Perdus
| French | English |
|---|---|
| J'ai perdu mon passeport. | I have lost my passport. |
| On m'a volé mon passeport. | My passport has been stolen. |
| Je dois contacter mon ambassade. | I need to contact my embassy. |
| Où est l'ambassade australienne / britannique ? | Where is the Australian / British Embassy? |
| J'ai besoin d'un passeport d'urgence. | I need an emergency passport. |
| J'ai perdu ma carte de crédit. | I have lost my credit card. |
| Je dois bloquer ma carte immédiatement. | I need to block my card immediately. |
Before You Travel: Smart Document Preparation
Before any trip, photograph your passport, insurance documents, and travel bookings and email them to yourself. Store the copies in a separate place from the originals. Note the 24-hour emergency phone number for your bank before you leave — you'll need it to block a stolen card from abroad. Register with your country's embassy or consular service if travelling to higher-risk areas.
Road Accidents — Accidents de la Route
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Il y a eu un accident de voiture. | There has been a car accident. |
| Appelez le 15 et le 17. | Call 15 and 17. |
| Il y a des blessés. | There are injured people. |
| Ne déplacez pas les blessés. | Don't move the injured. |
| Nous sommes sur l'autoroute A6, entre… et… | We are on the A6 motorway, between… and… |
| le constat amiable | agreed accident report form (for insurance) |
| Vos papiers d'assurance, s'il vous plaît. | Your insurance documents, please. |
| le numéro d'immatriculation | the registration number |
The Constat Amiable
If you're involved in any road incident in France, even a minor one, both parties should complete a constat amiable — a standardised accident report form that records the details of the incident for insurance purposes. These forms are required by French car insurance and copies should be kept in any rental vehicle. If the other party refuses to complete it, note their registration number and call the police.
Fire — Incendie
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Au feu ! | Fire! |
| Il y a un incendie ! | There is a fire! |
| Appelez les pompiers ! (18 ou 112) | Call the fire brigade! (18 or 112) |
| Évacuez l'immeuble ! | Evacuate the building! |
| Ne prenez pas l'ascenseur. | Do not take the lift. |
| la sortie de secours | emergency exit |
| l'extincteur (m) | fire extinguisher |
Key Personal Information to Know in French
In any emergency, you may need to give personal information to medical staff or police. Make sure you can communicate the following in French, or have it written down on a card in your wallet.
| Information | French Phrase |
|---|---|
| Your name | Je m'appelle… |
| Your nationality | Je suis australien(ne) / britannique / canadien(ne). |
| Your date of birth | Je suis né(e) le [date]. |
| Your blood type | Mon groupe sanguin est [A/B/AB/O], [positif/négatif]. |
| Allergies | Je suis allergique à… / Je n'ai pas d'allergies. |
| Medications | Je prends… comme médicament. |
| Emergency contact | Mon contact d'urgence est… Numéro : … |
| Travel insurance | J'ai une assurance voyage. La compagnie est… |
Carry a Medical Information Card
Print or write a card in French with your key medical information — blood type, allergies, current medications, emergency contact, and travel insurance number — and keep it in your wallet. In a serious emergency where you cannot communicate verbally, this card could be critically important. Our free printable medical card template is available to all Meridian French members.
Staying Safe in France
France is a very safe country for tourists, and the vast majority of visitors have entirely trouble-free trips. Standard common-sense precautions apply in all major tourist cities: keep your valuables secure, be aware of your surroundings in crowded places, avoid displaying expensive items unnecessarily, and use hotel safes for passports and large amounts of cash when sightseeing.
In the unlikely event that you do face an emergency, the French emergency services are professional, well-equipped, and experienced in dealing with international visitors. The SAMU medical service in particular is among the best in the world — France pioneered the concept of bringing the hospital to the patient rather than the patient to the hospital, and French emergency medicine is internationally respected. If you face a medical emergency in France, you are in good hands.
The most important preparation you can do is the preparation outlined on this page: know the emergency numbers, know the key phrases, and have your personal medical and contact information accessible. With these in place, you are as well prepared as any traveller can be.
Bon voyage — et voyagez en toute sécurité ! (Have a good trip — and travel safely!)