France Emergency Numbers: 112 and Other Helplines Guide

If you’re traveling in France – or anywhere in EU for that matter – and you need to make an emergency call, you should remember these three digits: 1-1-2.

However, emergencies can produce panic and you may dial “911” by mistake. What happens then?

Fret not. 911 should also work.

That’s right. 911 will redirect you to 112 in the EU or to the local emergency number of the country where you’re in. Both 911 and 112 often redirect to each other, or at least they should. It is part of GSM protocol so you will more likely get connected with 112 if you dial 911 when in the EU.

There is no guarantee it will happen all the time, however. Local networks may have issues so not all places will do redirections.

In this case, you’d better know the right numbers to call in case of emergency. Knowing the right emergency numbers could save time – and someone’s life! These numbers are free of charge and available 24/7.

France Emergency Numbers: 112 and Other Helplines Guide

When in France, you can dial 112 from your mobile phone, a landline, or a pay phone. But to save crucial time in emergency situations, there are emergency numbers you can call based on specific situations you may find yourself in.

Emergency Numbers in France and Other Helpful Numbers

If you have the specific numbers, you will get a faster response. But in any case, there is always 112. And remember, this important number works anywhere in the EU. 

Here’s the list of national emergency numbers in France.

114 – hearing assisted for all services, can be accessed via SMS and fax only (simply put, this is the “112” for people with hearing disabities)

15 – medical emergency / SAMU

17 – police

18 – fire and accident

115 – social emergency / emergency shelter

119 – child protection services

116000 – missing child services

116 117 – out-of-the-hours medical help

196 – emergency at sea or lake (if you’re calling from land)

112 / VHF Channel 16 – emergency at Sea (if you’re calling from sea)

191 – air rescue (plane accident or disappearance)

32 37 – duty pharmacy 

197 – terror or kidnapping hotline

01 40 05 48 48 – anti-poison center hotline in Paris

09 69 39 92 91 – MasterCard loss / card theft

Important Notes To Remember When Calling Emergency In France

• The Pan-European SOS hotline 112 can be reached in all emergency services – fire, accident, medical, and police – from anywhere in Europe. You can call this number from any phone – mobile, landline, or pay phone – and doesn’t cost a dime. Operators may speak both English and the local language where the call is being made.
• When calling 32 37, you will be prompted to give the area postcode of your location so be aware of this beforehand. The time a pharmacy is required will also be asked.
• When calling the terror or kidnapping hotline (197), you must state the location where assistance is needed. You will be required to give your name, phone number, and other contact information. You must tell the operator what happened (and if it is still happening), how many people need help, and if there are weapons involved.
• In a situation that involves wasp and / or hornet nests this is usually handled by a private company. If you happen to meet this kind of emergency while at your Airbnb house, the first thing to do is contact your host. But in the event the host is not available, the fire brigade can come to your assistance to remove the wasp and / or hornet nests. This may cost you a fee, however. Contact the local town hall for more details.

French Emergency Words and Phrases To Know

When calling the emergency numbers in France, please note that operators may speak English but it’s not guaranteed. The following French words and phrases will be helpful when explaining the situation to an operator who may not speak English.

“Au secours!”  – “Help!”

“Aidez moi” – “Help me” 

une urgence – emergency

l’assistance / l’aide – assistance / aid

un accident – accident

“J’ai eu un accident” – “I have had an accident”

blessé / blessée – injured

perdre connaissance – unconscious

hémorragie – bleeding

accident de voiture – car accident

crise cardiaque – heart attack

AVC (pronounced “a vay cay”) / un accident vasculaire cérébral – stroke

noyade / se noyer – drowning

brûlure – burning

feu – fire / blaze

“La maison est en feu” – “The house is on fire” 

“La voiture est en feu” – “The car is on fire”

“Le bateau est en feu” – “The boat is on fire”

piqûre de guêpe – wasp sting

piqûre de frelon – hornet sting

piqûre d’abeille – bee sting

un nid de guêpes – wasp nest

un nid de frelons – hornet nest

guêpe – wasp

frelon – hornet

étouffement – choking

crise d’épilepsie / la saisie – epileptic attack / seizure

très malade – very sick

cambrioleur / intrus – burglar / intruder

“Je suis en train de me faire cambrioler” – “Someone is in the house” / ” An intruder is in the house” / “I am being burgled”

armé / armée – armed

vol à main armée – armed robbery

avoir des contractions – in labor / having contractions

“Je suis en train d’accoucher” – “I am in labor”

“J’ai  besoin d’un docteur” / “Besoin  d’un médecin” / “Il me faut un médecin” – “I need a doctor”

J’ai besoin d’une ambulance” / “Il me faut une ambulance”–  “I need an ambulance”

attaque terroriste – terrorist attack

le venin – venom / poison

SAMU / Service d’Aide Médicale d’Urgence – The Emergency Medical Assistance Service 

pharmacie de garde – duty pharmacy

gendarmes – police

sapeurs-pompiers – firefighters

Contact Details of Embassies In Paris, France

US Embassy

Phone: 01 43 12 22 22
Address: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris
Website: U.S. Embassy & Consulates in France (usembassy.gov)

Canadian Embassy

Phone: 01 44 43 29 00
Address: 130 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris
Website: Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada (canadainternational.gc.ca)

British Embassy

Phone: 01 44 51 31 00
Address: 35 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris
Website: British Embassy Paris – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Irish Embassy

Phone: 01 44 17 67 00
Address: 12 Avenue Foch, 75116 Paris
Website: France – Department of Foreign Affairs (dfa.ie)

German Embassy

Phone: 01 53 83 45 00
Address: 13/15 Avenue Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 75008 Paris
Website: The Germany Embassy in Paris | France (german-embassy.com)

Russian Embassy

Phone: 01 45 04 05 50
Address: 40-50 Boulevard Lannes, 75116 Paris
Website: Посольство Российской Федерации во Франции (mid.ru)

Australian Embassy

Phone: 01 40 59 33 00
Address: 4 Rue Jean Rey, 75015 Paris
Website: Home (embassy.gov.au)

New Zealand Embassy

Phone: 01 45 01 43 43
Address: 103 Rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris
Website: New Zealand Embassy to France | New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (mfat.govt.nz)

Japanese Embassy

Phone: 01 48 88 62 00
Address: 7 Avenue Hoche, 75008 Paris
Website: Ambassade du Japon en France (emb-japan.go.jp)

Chinese Embassy

Phone: 01 49 52 19 50
Address: 11, avenue George V – 75008 Paris
Website: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China (fmprc.gov.cn)

Singapore Embassy

Phone: 01 56 79 68 00
Address: 16 Rue Murillo, 75008 Paris
Website: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore – Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Paris (mfa.gov.sg)

South African Embassy

Phone: 01 53 59 23 23
Address: 59 Quai d’Orsay, 75007 Paris
Website: France [ Republic of ] South African Embassy | South African Government (www.gov.za)