Emergency services phone number in France
 

We will be staying in the Ardennes and Champagne regions in France and I find conflicting information on emergency phone numbers (such as 911 in the US). Some say 112. Some say 15 for medical, 17 for police, and 18 for fire and ems.

Which are correct?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/112_(em...lephone_number)

Fortunately, I've not had to use any of these but we have a chart similar to this by our phone. From my mobile/cell, I would use 112.

http://paris.angloinfo.com/informati...e/emergencies/

15 calls SAMU, which is generally medical emergencies. The 15, 17 and 18 numbers are French. The 112 is general EU-wide, that's all, you can use either.

112 will work throughout Europe, including in the UK. If calling from a mobile it should know where it is and you can just use the emergency call button.
When we witnessed a terrible accident in France we called 112. A French driver who came upon the accident also called, and he too used 112. I asked if it would have been quicker to use another number and he said no, 112 is good.

This is from Pvoyageuse, who is French but is probably in bed by now. It has a little more

Firemen : dial 18
Medical emergency (SAMU) : dial 15
Police : dial 17
European emergency number (valid in all EU countries) : 112
SOS medecin : 3624 (local doctors on duty)
Pharmacies on duty on Sunday and at night : 3237 (note that between 10 pm and 7 am you have to go to a police station first - they'll get in touch with the pharmacy).

All these phone numbers are free and can be dialed from a telephone booth even if you don't have a phone card.

My local paper also lists the phone number of the public and private hospitals in the area.


Stu Dudley