You plan the perfect vacation to Paris and then on the second afternoon you twist your ankle getting off the bus. Or you’ve just relocated to Paris, barely know a soul, and your child wakes up with a high fever. What do you do?
Don’t panic. Just make sure you know where to find a list of French emergency telephone numbers and French medical and emergency phrases and words.
To get you on your way, here’s a list of both. Feel free to print it and keep it somewhere handy.
SOS médecins: 3624
By calling SOS médecins, you can arrange for a doctor come to your hotel room or home for a consultation. That’s right – in France, the doctors still make house calls! The person who answers the phone will ask for your contact information and symptoms. Your call may be then passed to the nurse or doctor who will decide if you need an ambulance. A doctor will arrive within the hour, usually less.
SOS dentist: 01 43 37 51 00
You can call this number for help finding a dentist in your area, particularly one who is available for weekend emergencies.
Medical help/SAMU: 15
The Emergency Medical Assistance Service or Service d’Aide Médicale d’Urgence will quickly connect you with a doctor. This is the number to call for an ambulance, a mobile resuscitation, an intensive care vehicle, or medical helicopter.
Fire and accidents/Pompiers: 18
Firefighters work closely with the SAMU and often provide rapid emergency first aid in France. This is the number to call if there’s a fire and also if you are in a car accident or have a physical injury. They can also provide you with an ambulance to a hospital.
Police: 17
You should call the police to report a crime, which requires the immediate intervention, such as an attack, mugging, or burglary. Loss of belongings from pickpockets or other forms of theft should be reported at the nearest police station – if nothing else, it’s important for insurance purposes.
European SOS from a mobile phone: 112
European SOS provides 24 hour medical and security assistance in English. It can be called from anywhere in Europe from your cell phone.
Pharmacy: 32 37
Most pharmacies are open Monday to Saturday from 08:30am to 7:30pm, but many are close between 12:00pm and 2:00pm. This is the number to call to find a pharmacy in your arrondissement open on Sundays or 24 hours a day.
Here are emergency/medical vocabulary and phrases:
Je m’appelle = My name is ….
J’ai eu un accident = I had an accident
Je besoin d’un médecin = I need a doctor
Je besoin d’une ambulance = I need an ambulance
Je ne peux pas respirer = I can’t breathe
Mon bébé/enfant a de la fièvre = My baby/child has a fever
Mon bébé est s’étouffe = My baby is choking
Aidez moi = help me
Au secours = Help!
J’ai mal a la tête = I have a headache
J’ail mal au ventre = stomach ache
***
Très malade = very sick
Crise cardiaque = heart attack
Une fièvre = fever
Un mal de gorge = sore throat
Une infection = infection
Une infection de l’oreille/otite moyenne = ear infection
Une toux = cough
Vomir = to vomit
Une éruption inflammatoire = rash
Un accident = an accident
Blessé(e) = injured
Perdre connaissance = unconscious
Hémorragie = bleeding
***
Feu = fire
Cambrioleur/Intrus = burglar/intruder
Une urgence = emergency
Je suis en train de me faire cambrioler = I am being burgled.
Someone is in the house = Quelqu’un est chez moi.