Know French Emergency Services as an Expat

France's Emergency Services Explained

Unlike in the UK, where 999 connects you to a single dispatcher who can send police, ambulance, or fire brigade, France has separate numbers for each service. Knowing which number to call can save critical minutes in an emergency.

SAMU — 15

The Service d'Aide Médicale Urgente (SAMU) is the medical emergency service, equivalent to calling for an ambulance in the UK. Call 15 for any medical emergency — chest pains, stroke symptoms, serious injury, unconsciousness, breathing difficulties, or any situation where you believe someone's life is at risk.

The dispatcher will assess the situation and may: send an ambulance (SMUR) with a doctor on board, send a basic ambulance (ambulance de garde), advise you to take the person to hospital yourself, or connect you with a duty doctor.

Pompiers — 18

The Sapeurs-Pompiers (fire brigade) in France are trained paramedics as well as firefighters. They often respond to medical emergencies as well as fires, road accidents, and technical rescues. In practice, calling 18 for a medical emergency will often result in an equally fast response as calling 15.

Police Nationale — 17

Call 17 for any police emergency in towns and cities. This covers crimes in progress, road accidents, disturbances, and domestic incidents.

Gendarmerie

In rural areas and smaller communes, public order is handled by the Gendarmerie Nationale rather than the Police Nationale. However, calling 17 from anywhere in France will connect you to the appropriate service for your location.

European Emergency Number — 112

112 is the pan-European emergency number, accessible from any phone including mobile phones without a SIM card. Operators in France may speak English, and the call will be routed to the most appropriate service. This is the simplest number to remember and works across the EU.

Practical Advice for Expats

Save all of these numbers in your phone before you need them. The LifeLine Europe app places them all on a single screen with one-tap dialling. If your French is limited, the European 112 service is your best starting point as English-speaking operators are more likely to be available.