Emergencies & Medical Issues in Spain

In case of an emergency dial: 112 which will take you straight through to a service operator.

The emergency services here in Spain are pretty good, but obviously their response time depends on the location of the emergency and its severity. Because of this, is it absolutely vital that you are able to communicate your problem to a service operator in Spanish because, although there are probably interpreters available, in an emergency time wasting must be kept to a minimum. So in order to prepare yourself in case of any kind of emergency, the following phrases are probably worth knowing or keeping with you at all times:

Necesito una ambulancia – I need an ambulance
Bomberos – Fire-fighters
Policía – Police (you can also call 091 for local police)
He sido atacado – I have been attacked
Nos han entrado ladrones en casa – Our house has been burgled
Nuestra casa esta en llamas – Our house is on fire
Mucha gente se lastima - Many people are injured
Vivo en… - I live in…

Safety

Spain is a country known for its relaxed atmosphere and chilled citizens, it’s easy to make friends, feel at home and feel like you belong in a very short space of time. On the other hand, the large cities around the country, as well as the particularly secluded areas, are no stranger to the kind of petty and avoidable crime that exists in most European countries, especially when you look like you’re not yet accustomed to your surroundings. Keeping ID such as a driving licence, residence permit or passport with you at all times is also advised, just in case you are in a position where you are asked for it.

Pickpockets are extremely common around main tourist areas no matter where in the country you are. Keeping your bag in front of you and close to you at all times as well as ensuring that it is securely fastened with a zipper is one of the best ways to avoid falling victim to this type of crime. When seated at restaurants, always keep your belongings on your knee or where you can clearly see them. Thieves are clever and have devices to reach and take bags that are left on the floor by your feet.

In addition, keep all gadgets such as mobile phones and iPods out of sight when you are in public places and if you must, keep them in your hand at all times. One of the most common forms of theft at the moment occurs when expensive gadgets are left on tables while people have drinks or eat, children with ‘sponsor forms’ or ‘petitions’ will approach in medium sized groups placing the papers on your table over your personal items. While distracting you with the paper, they will swiftly grab your phone from beneath it without you noticing and then move on.

Safety at home is also very important, though most apartment blocks in Spain are very secure. If you live on the ground floor, it’s probably a good idea to keep your shutters and windows closed during the day to ensure that your possessions aren’t on display and to make it difficult for thieves to get in. It’s also advised to make sure that you don’t let anyone follow you into your building unless you know for a fact that they live there, even if they say that they are visiting someone.

Police

There are numerous types of police around Spain, and in the larger cities there is constantly a large presence at all times of the day or night. The most common that you will see out and about are the Policía Municipal or local police force who wears navy blue uniforms and hats and respond to most forms of crime and incident in your area. A constant police presence such as this can be highly reassuring to visitors and usually it quite acceptable to approach them regarding any problem or issue you might have, even to ask directions. On the other hand, they do their job well, usually with positive outcomes, so it’s advised to keep well out of their way if they are already handling some kind of problem. They are unlike English policemen in many ways, but usually very friendly.

Embassies

In the unfortunate event of any serious incident which you need to get your embassy involved, the following numbers will get you in touch with the main embassy of each country in Madrid:

UK: 91 714 6300
Ireland: 91 436 4093
France: 91 423 8900
Belgium: 91 377 6300
Germany: 91 557 9000
Italy: 91 423 3300
Greece: 91 564 4653
USA: 91 587 2200