Emergency Numbers in Spain: 112, 061 and Beyond

The one emergency number to remember in Spain is 112 — the unified number across Spain and the entire EU for medical, fire, police and rescue help. It's free from any phone, with or without a SIM or credit, and operators speak English. Specialised numbers exist too: 061 for medical-only in some regions, 091 for National Police, 062 for the Civil Guard, 016 for domestic violence. When in doubt, call 112 — it triages and forwards you to the right service in seconds.

What is the one emergency number to remember in Spain?

112 is the unified emergency number for the entire European Union, including Spain. It handles medical emergencies, fire, police incidents, sea or mountain rescue and major accidents. It's free from any phone anywhere in Spain, even without a SIM or credit, and the operator triages your call and forwards you to the right service.

112 is the unified emergency number for the entire European Union, including Spain. It works for:

• Medical emergencies (heart attack, stroke, severe injury, breathing difficulty)
• Fire (forest fires are common in summer, especially in southern Spain and the islands)
• Police incidents (assault, theft, missing persons)
• Sea or mountain rescue
• Major accidents (road, rail, building collapse)

Free from any phone, anywhere in Spain, with or without a SIM card or credit. Even a phone with no service can dial 112 in most cases (there's a special protocol for it).

The 112 operator triages the call and forwards you to the right service: medical (SUMMA, SAMUR, 061), police (112 dispatchers route you to Policía Nacional, Guardia Civil, or local police), or fire (Bomberos).

What languages does 112 support?

Every regional 112 centre handles Spanish and English, and coastal regions and the islands also handle French, German and Italian as standard, plus the regional language where applicable (Catalan in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, Galician in Galicia, Basque in the Basque Country, Valencian).

If your Spanish is limited, just say "English, please" at the start of the call. The operator will switch immediately or connect you to a translator.

What specialised emergency numbers exist in Spain?

Beyond 112, Spain has specialised numbers: 061 for medical-only in some regions, 091 for the National Police, 062 for the Civil Guard, 092 for Local Police, 080/085 for Bomberos, 900 202 202 for maritime rescue, 016 for domestic violence and 112 for everything else. This table lists each one and when to use it.

When in doubt: call 112. They handle everything and they're free.

What should I say when I call 112?

When you call 112, the operator needs answers fast: where you are (exact address or your phone's GPS coordinates), what happened, how many people are involved and how badly hurt, whether anyone is in immediate danger, and your name and a callback number. Stay on the line until told you can hang up.

The operator needs answers, fast. Have these ready:

1. Where are you? Exact address if possible. If you don't know, your phone's GPS coordinates work — most modern phones display them in the dialer when calling 112. Hotel name + town + region also works in tourist areas.
2. What happened? "Medical emergency", "car accident", "fire in a kitchen", "person collapsed in the street".
3. How many people? And who's injured and how badly.
4. Are you in danger right now? Is someone unconscious, bleeding heavily, having trouble breathing.
5. Your name and a callback number (so they can reach you if the call drops).

Stay on the line. Don't hang up until the operator says "you can hang up now." They may need to give you instructions while help is on the way (CPR steps, how to control bleeding, what to do if someone's choking).

What emergency basics should every traveller know?

Every traveller should know four emergency basics while waiting for help: CPR chest compressions for someone not breathing, direct pressure for severe bleeding, the Heimlich manoeuvre for choking, and using an EpiPen for anaphylaxis. The 112 operator will talk you through any of them — here is each one.

How do I do CPR (chest compressions)?

If someone collapses and isn't breathing, chest compressions buy time. Push hard and fast on the centre of the chest, ~100–120 compressions per minute, ~5 cm deep, until help arrives. The 112 operator will guide you. Don't worry about doing it perfectly — anything is better than nothing.

How do I control severe bleeding?

Direct pressure with whatever cloth you have on hand. Don't lift the cloth to check; just keep pressing. Elevate the limb if possible.

What do I do if someone is choking?

The Heimlich manoeuvre (back blows + abdominal thrusts) is the standard. If you can't remember, the 112 operator will talk you through it.

How do I respond to an allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)?

If someone has a severe allergic reaction (lips/tongue swelling, breathing difficulty, full-body hives, dropping consciousness), call 112 immediately. If they have an EpiPen / Auvi-Q, use it: thigh, through clothing if needed, hold for 3 seconds.

Which numbers should I save in my phone before travelling?

Before travelling, save these numbers in your phone contacts: 112 for emergencies, the Spanish poison control line (91 562 04 20), your travel insurance international assistance number, your country's embassy or consulate in Spain, and your hotel front desk number.

Add to your contacts now:

• Emergencies SP: 112
• Spain Poison: 91 562 04 20
• Your travel insurance emergency line (look at your policy — every insurer publishes an international assistance number)
• The embassy / consulate of your country in Spain (or in the city you're visiting)
• Your hotel front desk number if you're not at the hotel when the emergency happens

When is a home-visit doctor better than calling 112?

A home-visit doctor is better than 112 for situations that aren't true emergencies but still need medical attention — a child with high fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, an infected cut, a UTI, severe sunburn. With OnCall's urgent home doctor service across Spain a licensed doctor comes to your accommodation, and the price is set by each doctor and shown before you book. It is covered by most travel insurance. Use 112 for true emergencies.

How do I stay calm during an emergency call?

When something serious happens, panic narrows everyone's thinking. The way to stay calm is to lean on the 112 operator, who is trained to be calm and direct. Trust them — answer their questions, follow their instructions, and stay on the line. Help is coming.