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In brief
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Duration: Call immediately; the response time depends on medical assessment, location and available means
Cost: Calls 15, 17, 18, 112 and free 114 access; cost of subsequent care depending on the situation
On-site only

Who this guide is for

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  • All residents and travellers in France
  • Families with children and people with chronic illness
  • Persons in need of written or visual access to rescue

To be prepared in advance

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  • Remember the 15 for medical emergency and 112 for emergency
  • Keep the 17 for police and 18 for fire or danger
  • Install the Urgence 114 application or save emergency114.fr when voice communication is impossible
  • Keeping a list of medicines, allergies and diseases; the absence of a Vital Card must never delay the call

Step-by-step procedure

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  1. 1In case of chest pain, speech disorder, respiratory distress, loss of consciousness, severe trauma or other life-threatening conditions, call 15 or 112 immediately.
  2. 2Give the exact address, your number, age of the person, symptoms and start time. Do not hang up until the operator agrees.
  3. 3Follow the medical regulations. The professional can advise, send a team, organize a transport or direct to another suitable solution.
  4. 4If you are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf of blindness, aphasic or unable to speak, use the 114 by the application, emergency114.fr or SMS and indicate in writing the address and pattern.
  5. 5If the condition requires a rapid assessment without looking vital and the attending physician is unavailable, call the 15: SAS can offer advice, consultation or guidance.
  6. 6For a non-emergency problem, contact the attending physician, a physician or a on-call pharmacy. Check local contacts with the town hall or official services; private networks are not available everywhere.
  7. 7Do not wait for Vital Card, Social Security Number, or proof of payment before alerting the rescue.

Common mistakes

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  • Deciding alone that an ambulance is not necessary despite serious symptoms
  • Use the 114 as a general voice number: it is a specialized access when speech is impossible
  • Believe that a private network or a unique medical examination number works everywhere 24h/24
  • Driving yourself with a serious condition instead of calling regulation
  • Wait for a Vital Card or certificate before requesting help

Official sources

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Useful links

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Important remark

In case of doubt about gravity, call 15. This guide does not allow for remote assessment of a state and never replaces emergency instructions.

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