Do you know what to do if you are in Hungary and need emergency assistance?
If you know for sure that you need help from an ambulance, fire brigade or police, call the direct number:
- Ambulance 104
- Fire brigade 105
- Police 107
These numbers are available 24 hours a day.
In case of any emergency, you can call the single European number 112. This number can be called free of charge 24 hours a day from all public, landline and cell phones! From a cell phone you can diall 112 without unlocking the keypad and even if there is no network.
In Hungary, operators answer calls in Hungarian, English and German.
Please do not call the emergency number unnecessarily, as this may endanger those who really need help. Using the 112 number in an unauthorized manner and making false reports are offenses punishable by fines!
If you call any emergency number, you must answer the following questions:
- the caller’s name and phone number;
- the location of the incident;
- what happened; who needs help.
Depending on the specific case, you may also be asked the following questions:
- Whether the incident poses an immediate threat to anyone’s life;
- the number of people injured, if any, the extent(s) of injury(s);
- whether the incident is ongoing or has already occurred.
In addition, it is worth providing any information that may be important to the emergency services (e.g. whether there are still casualties, whether firefighters are needed, etc.).
Finally, a few words about the ambulance service in Hungary. If help is needed, anyone – regardless of citizenship or health insurance status – can call an ambulance by calling 104.
In what cases can you call an ambulance?
- If there is a danger to life or a suspicion of such danger;
- in case of an accident, injury or poisoning of any origin;
- in the case of labor or abnormalities during pregnancy;
- severe pain or other alarming symptoms (e.g., choking, difficulty breathing, paralysis of limbs, etc.);
- If behavioral disorders are detected in which the patient is endangering his or her life or the lives of others.
For other non-emergency conditions, call your primary care physician or emergency medical services. The physician will take the necessary action based on an evaluation of the patient.
Sources:
https://www.police.hu/hu/112
https://www.mentok.hu/ha-baj-van/ki-es-mikor-hivhat-mentot/
Find out how the ambulance service works in Hungary here:
https://migaid.org/surgossegi-ellatas-magyarorszagon/
