What Tourists Must do During Emergencies

Even if you are a tourist, you must know and understand the security measures taken by locals whenever they encounter any emergencies either in public places or in private locations. If you witness an accident on the streets or in markets, you must try your best to respond immediately to help those in need unless if the situations calls for you to risk your life, as well.

If you find yourself in the middle of a situation, you should always try your best to distance yourself from it before calling the cops. Even when you are far away from the problem, you should able to observe the issue closely so you can alert the cops in case the case worsens.

During emergencies, it is recommended to help the person in need but never act beyond your abilities. Never step up to offer something that only medical experts are well-versed in, and never do anything drastic or too heroic if you are so unsure of the results.

Like 911, Paris utilizes certain numbers on the telephone to alert the police, ambulance and the fire department. Remember to put the following digits on speed dial on your cellphone because they might just save your life!

• If you need an ambulance, dial 15.
• If you need the police, dial 17.
• If you need the fire department to respond to a fire or a cat stuck on a tree, dial 18.
• If you need to call all three departments at once, dial 112 on your cellphone. This is a special number which is used all over Europe, not just in France.

As soon as the other line picks up, immediately inform them of the following:

• Tell them your current location; if you don’t know where you are, mention a landmark.
• Mention your name and your cellphone or telephone number so they can call back.
• If there is an emergency, mention what is happening or what has happened.
• If people are involved, tell them what is happening (ie is anyone injured or unconscious?)

Finally, bear in mind that you should never abuse the emergency hotlines. Do not call if there is a petty issue, like you can’t find a good parking spot or if you were locked out of your apartment. The best person to call in case you have parking spot issues or if you can’t get into the building or your apartment is, of course, the landlord.