Only in case of emergency, i.e. when a rapid intervention is necessary to protect people and/or property (fire, malaise, injured person...), you can alert the emergency services by short numbers:

• Samu (emergency medical assistance department), for example in case of heart failure, by calling the 15
• Firefighters, for example in the event of fire or road traffic accident, by dialing the 18

In any case, you can also dial the 112. You will then be directed to the right service according to your case. The 112 can be used in all European Union countries.

All calls to these numbers are free and geolocated. In addition, they are prioritized.

Finally, they do not appear on invoices.

These numbers can be dialed from a landline or mobile phone.

Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you are deaf or hard of hearing or if you are not able to call (talk), you can send a free text message to 114. You will then only communicate in writing with your correspondent.

This service is available 24/7.

The 114 can also be reached by videophone, after downloading the app on your smartphone. This app is called Emergency 114.

If the situation is serious and you can move, you can go to the emergency department of the nearest hospital.

If your case is not not urgent (headache, cold...), you can reach a doctor or a pharmacy on call, at night, on weekends and holidays.

You can obtain the list of doctors and pharmacies on call from your city council, especially on its website.

In some departments, a single, toll-free number, 116 117, is being set up on an experimental basis. This number is used to obtain:

• Medical advice
• Referral to a primary care doctor or a nursing home
• The organization of a home visit in case of inability of the person to move.

The 15th is reserved for emergencies.

Also, if you are deaf or hard of hearing or if you can't call (to speak), you can send a free text message to 114. You will then only communicate in writing with your correspondent.

This service is available 24/7.

The 114 can also be reached by videophone, after downloading the app on your smartphone.

If you are a victim or witness to domestic, sexual or gender-based violence, instant messaging (chat) allows you to chat with a police officer.

Chat history can be deleted from your computer, mobile phone or tablet at any time.

Report rape or sexual assault

The 116,111 The role in all European countries to help children in need of care and protection and to connect them with services and resources.

It allows any child in danger or anyone with knowledge of a situation of children in danger to call this number regardless of the European country in which they are located.

In particular, it allows children who transit through Europe and know this number to be helped when they arrive in France.

The 191 can be used for free 24/7, by:

• Any user in distress

• By any direct witness of an accident aircraft

• Anyone is concerned about the disappearance of an aircraft and its occupants.

Search and rescue operations can be initiated.

A call on this number is geolocated, identified and prioritized. It doesn't show up on the bills.

The VHF channel 16 (Very High Frequency) or the 196 number connects you to the Regional Operational Monitoring and Rescue Center (CROSS).

The 196 does not replace the VHF at sea, which is a priority for alerting and staying in contact with the CROSS and emergency equipment.

The Kidnapping Alert Plan allows a mass message to be sent throughout the national territory in the event of a child being abducted with the aim of finding the child as quickly as possible.

The prosecutor of the territorially competent Republic takes the decision to trigger if the following four criteria are met:

• This is a well-documented kidnapping and not a disappearance, albeit alarming
• The victim is a minor
• The child’s life or physical integrity is at risk
• The prosecutor has information that may allow the child or his abductor to be located.

When a removal alert is triggeredIf you have any information, you should contact the police or gendarmerie. For this purpose, you dial the The number specified in the message that was broadcast during this alert.

You should call the following numbers in order of priority until a contact is established. 

When calling, you must specify:

• That this is a speleological accident
• And we need to alert the technical advisor on spelunking on the department.

In the event of an accident, call 112, then contact if there is departmental technical advisor on speleology.

If you are unable to contact 112, call a departmental technical advisor on speleology.

If not, contact the Spéléo-Secours-Français.

Finally, it is possible to contact the local gendarmerie (17). When calling, you must specify:

• That this is a speleological accident
• And we need to alert the technical advisor on spelunking on the department.

If you are a victim or witness to an assault on public transport, you can contact an officer 24 hours a day:

• By phone at 3117
• By SMS at 31177.

You can also download the 3117 app. This helps you locate your location more quickly, and also facilitates the triggering of agents.

Poison control centers are medical services located in French university hospitals. Doctors, pharmacists, and nurses provide ongoing toll-free telephone support.

One site lists their 24/7 and 7/7 open telephone numbers:

Know the coordinates of the poison control centers

This number is free, accessible 7 days a week and 24 hours a day, from all over the national territory.

This number is designed to meet the immediate needs of people seeking help: listening, assessing, responding, emergency, referral or crisis follow-up.

You can also call if you are worried about a loved one.

This number is also intended for professionals in contact with people in distress or seeking information on suicide and suicide prevention.