Emergency Healthcare
in France

15, 17, 18, or 112: which number actually matters

France's official emergency guidance lists 15 for SAMU, 18 for firefighters, 17 for police, and 112 as the European emergency number. For a medical reaction, call 15 or 112, give your exact location, and say “severe allergic reaction” or “anaphylaxis.” If you are unsure which service fits, 112 can direct the call. Emergency services may call you back from 0 800 112 112, so answer that number after making a call.

What to tell the dispatcher

The medical dispatcher needs enough detail to decide what help is appropriate. Give the caller's phone number, your exact address or map location, the building entrance or floor if relevant, the person's age, the symptoms, when they began, whether they are getting worse, and what prescribed emergency treatment has already been used. Keep the phone available and do not hang up until the dispatcher tells you to. If you cannot make a voice call because you are deaf, hard of hearing, or unable to speak, France's official guidance lists the free 114 text service.

Put the same information in a note on your phone before the trip: the French words réaction allergique sévère (severe allergic reaction), your accommodation address, your passport name, your insurer's assistance number, and the names and doses of your prescribed medicines. A written allergy card can help a hotel employee, travel companion, or emergency clinician understand the situation, but it does not replace the emergency call or your personal action plan.

What happens after you call

Calling 15 is a triage step, not simply a request for a taxi to a hospital. The medical service may give instructions while help is arranged, send an emergency team, or direct you toward an appropriate emergency department. If you are seriously unwell and can move safely, Service-Public says you can go to the nearest hospital emergency department; do not drive yourself if your symptoms or treatment make that unsafe. Follow the dispatcher, keep your location visible, and have your medication, passport, insurance details, and allergy card ready for the responders.

For a non-emergency problem, do not use 15 as a general appointment line. A pharmacist, an on-call doctor, or a local healthcare service may be more appropriate; the available options vary by department. Service-Public notes that 116 117 is an experimental out-of-hours number in some departments, so check the current local arrangement rather than assuming it works everywhere.

What public urgences actually costs a visitor

Do not delay emergency care because you are worried about payment. The French billing process depends on your healthcare entitlement, insurance, the facility, and the care provided. Under current French public-service guidance, an emergency visit without hospital admission has a 23 euro forfait patient urgences charge; other treatment or hospital charges may also apply. Keep your passport or identity document, insurance details, receipts, discharge papers, and prescriptions so you can submit a claim later.

The official French health-insurance guidance says the forfait patient urgences is €23 for a person who visits the emergency department without being admitted, with exemptions and reimbursement rules depending on the person's situation. Read the current forfait patient urgences guidance before relying on an old travel forum or a quoted hospital bill. Ask the hospital or your insurer which documents they need, and keep an itemised invoice if you need to claim from travel insurance.

When the situation is not an emergency

If you are unsure whether symptoms are becoming serious, use your clinician's action plan and seek professional advice rather than trying to diagnose yourself from a travel article. For a severe reaction, breathing difficulty, collapse, or rapidly worsening symptoms, call 15 or 112. For a non-emergency issue, your insurer, hotel, pharmacy, or local healthcare service can explain what options are available in that area.

Pharmacies

Pharmacies are marked with a green cross, but opening hours, stock, and prescription rules can vary. Do not plan to replace your prescribed auto-injector after arrival. Bring the medication prescribed for you, keep it accessible during travel, and ask your clinician or pharmacist how it should be stored and carried.

Travel insurance

Before buying a policy for a France trip, check whether it covers emergency treatment, how it defines pre-existing conditions, whether food allergy or anaphylaxis is excluded, and whether it covers evacuation or repatriation. EHIC or GHIC eligibility depends on the issuing country and the relevant agreement; check the card's terms and do not assume it covers every travel cost. Keep the insurer's assistance number offline, but do not call the insurer instead of emergency services during a serious reaction.

SafetyWing Nomad Insurance is one policy to compare, but its documentation does not name food allergies or anaphylaxis specifically. Review the pre-existing-condition and evacuation terms and get written clarification before buying.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do during a severe allergic reaction in France?

Follow your prescribed emergency plan. If you have a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector and your plan calls for it, use it during a severe reaction, then call 15 for SAMU or 112 from a mobile phone. Tell the dispatcher that this is a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis and give your exact location. Do not delay urgent care because you are unsure about payment or insurance.

What should I know about emergency-care costs in France?

Payment depends on your healthcare entitlement, insurance, the care provided, and the facility's billing process. An emergency visit without hospital admission has a 23 euro forfait patient urgences charge under current French guidance, but other charges can apply. Check your EHIC, GHIC, or insurance eligibility before travel and keep receipts and medical documents.

Which emergency number should I call for a medical emergency in France?

Call 15 for SAMU or 112 from a mobile phone. France's official guidance also lists 18 for firefighters and 17 for police. The 112 service can direct an emergency call to the appropriate service; give your exact location and say that the problem is a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis.