Emergencies in Cape Town

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Emergencies

There are several numbers you can call for general emergencies, including Vodacom mobile networks. Metrorail has its own security/emergency number. If you get lost on Table Mountain, call Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR), and for all sea emergencies, call the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).

Emergency services at public hospitals are overworked, understaffed, and underfunded. They deal with a huge number of local people, most of whom cannot afford any alternative. Ambulances are provided by the state, but visitors are advised to use private hospitals, which are open 24/7 and have ambulances linked to their private hospital group (although these services can transport patients to any health facility). Most public hospitals have facilities for private patients at lower rates than the fully private hospitals. Make sure that you have medical insurance that's good in South Africa before you leave home.

A number of pharmacies are open from 8 AM to around 10 PM. Most pharmacies display telephone numbers on their door or storefront in case you have an emergency and need medicine during off-hours. (In a real emergency, head to the closest private clinic.)

Emergency Services

Ambulance (10177). Metrorail (0800/210-081 or 0800/656-463). National Sea Rescue Institute (021/434-4011 head office; 082911 emergencies). Police (10111). Police, Fire, and Ambulance services (107 from landline). Vodacom emergency services (112 from mobile phone). Weather (082162). Wilderness Search and Rescue (021/948-9908).

Hospitals

Christiaan Barnard Hospital (181 Longmarket St., Cape Town Central. 021/480-6111). Claremont Hospital (Harfield and Main Rds., Claremont. 021/670-4300). Constantiaberg Medi-clinic (Burnham Rd., Plumstead. 021/799-2911). Panorama Medi-clinic (Rothchild Blvd., Panorama. 021/938-2111).

Pharmacies

Lite-Kem Pharmacy (Scotts Building, 24 Darling St., Cape Town Central. 021/461-8040). Rustenburg Pharmacy (Rondebosch Shopping Centre, Main Rd., Rondebosch. 021/686-3997). Table Bay Pharmacy (Shop 6108, V&A Waterfront, Waterfront. 021/418-4556).