Living in Spain is fantastic especially on the Costa del Sol; eternal sunshine and beautiful beaches, just like paradise. But an emergency can ruin your little paradise if you don’t know what to do or who to call.
Many tourists and even foreign residents who came here to enjoy a carefree retirement have no idea what to do when an emergency catches you out.
So what to do in case of an emergency? In Spain there is an emergency number that covers all services 112 (no area code will be needed in Span and it works with a SIM card). Call responders speak various languages and it is also possible to text or fax in case of disabilities. When you call this number they will ask you what is your emergency, your location and send a specialised team to help.
If you are looking to call specific emergency team like an ambulance (ambulancía) you should call 061.
For the fire department (Cuerpo de Bomberos) the number is 080.
You also have several police forces that could help you. The local police department (Policía Municipal) covers the town or city area for traffic offences and control, lost property and crimes such as theft and neighbourhood disputes. For this you should dial 092.
For the Civil Guard Department (Guarda Civil) call 062, this is a military force that operates mostly in rural areas and is responsible for drug offences, fatal car accidents, robberies and murders.
There is also the National Spanish Police (Policía Nacional) they mainly work at an urban level in the areas of terrorism, national security and combating crime. To reach them you should call 091.
However, the easiest way to get help and to make sure you contact the right department is to call 112 and let the specialised staff help you – you are also more likely to be dealt by someone who speaks multiple languages.
In case of a health issue where you are able to drive or someone could take you, the closest public hospital is in Marbella: Hospital Costa del Sol. They work 24/7 and you can find specialised medical help there. San Pedro Alcantará also has a public health centre, Centro de Salud de San Pedro Alcántara, which is open from 8:00hrs to 20:00hrs Monday to Friday. They have an emergency number, which is 902 505 061 but to call to this number you have to add the area code of +34 for Spain.
There is also a private health centre in the centre of San Pedro called Clínica del Rio. They are open from 9:00hrs to 21:00hrs Monday to Friday, 10:00hrs till 14:00hrs on Saturday and closed on Sunday. To book an appointment with a multitude of doctors and specialists, call +34 952 780 135.
We hope you won’t need it, but if you do, these phone numbers can help save a life, so make sure you keep them in a place of easy access, such as a fridge door or your wallet for instance.
Picture courtesy of SickChirpse News.