Emergency Numbers in Portugal
Who to contact in an emergency in Portugal...
In case of an accident or emergency, it is important to know who to contact and what to say.
NB: In most Portuguese towns and cities, a list of local numbers to call in case of an emergency are posted in places like children's playgrounds and other public areas.
| National Emergency Services | Telephone |
|---|---|
| Medical emergency (ambulância) | 112 |
| Police - (polícia) including Local Police (Guarda Nacional Republicana, GNR) and Security Police (Polícia Segurança Publica, PSP) | 112 |
| Fire Rescue |
112 |
| Health line for emergencies available 24/7 | 808 242 424 |
| Forest Fires | 117 |
| Sea Rescue (Centro de Busca e Salvamento Marítimo) Lisbon | 214 401 919 |
| Maritime Police (plus pick-up boat service) Lisbon | 210 911 100 |
| Pan-European emergency number | 112 |
European SOS 112
Pan-European emergency number: calls to 112 are free from any phone (mobile or cellular or fixed-line). The operator will put you in contact with the emergency service that you require including medical, fire and police. It can be used for any life-threatening situation, including:
- Serious medical problems (accident, unconscious person, severe injuries, chest pain, seizure)
- Any type of fire (house, car)
- Life-threatening situations (crimes)
- SOS 112 website
- For emergency terms and phrases in Portuguese: Click here
Crisis and Help Lines
Note: there is no guarantee that English will be spoken by staff and volunteers manning the helplines listed below.
| Service | Telephone |
|---|---|
| Drug Abuse Support (Linha VIDA-SOS Drogas) Mondays to Fridays 10:00-00:00 |
Tel: 1414 |
| HIV/AIDS (Linha SIDA) (Talk-Line 10:00-20:00; Saturdays 14:00-20:00) |
Tel: 800 266 666 |
| HIV/AIDS SOS-SIDA | Tel: 800 201 040 |
| Child Abuse: SOS Criança SOS Criança Criança Maltratada Line open 10:00-20:00 |
Tel: 800 202 651 Tel: 217 931 617 Tel: 213 433 333 |
| Women Abuse (SOS Mulher) Commission for Equality & Women's Rights (Comissão para a Igualdade a para os Direitos das Mulheres) | Tel: 800 202 148 Tel: 239 832 073 |
| Suicide/Crisis Line (SOS Voz Amiga) | Tel: 800 202 669 Tel: 213 544 545 Tel: 354 4545 |
| Red Cross Ambulances (Ambulâncias) | Tel: 219 421 111 |
| Red Cross Hospitals (Hospitais) | Tel: 217 714 000 |
| Anti-Poison (Intoxicações) | Tel: 808 250 143 |
| Pharmacy/Chemist On Duty | Website |
| Portuguese Anti-Alcohol Society: (Sociedade Anti-Alcoólica Portuguesa) Line open Mondays to Fridays 09:30-18:00 |
Tel: 213 571 483 |
| Alcoholics Anonymous: (Alcoólicos Anónimos) | Tel: 217 162 969 |
| Cancer Help Line: (Linha Contra o Cancro) Line open Monday to Friday 09:00-18:00 |
Tel: 808 255 255 |
| SOS Children: Child abuse (SOS - Criança) Line open 09:30-18:30 |
Tel: 800 202 651 Tel: 217 931 617 |
| Child Helpline: (Recados da Criança) Line open Monday to Friday 09:30-17:30 |
Tel: 800 206 656 |
| Disability Helpline: (Linha Directa Cidadão/Deficiência) | Tel: 217 959 545 |
| Drug Anon Portuguese Association for Drug Addicts Anonymous (Associação Portuguesa de Narcóticos Anónimos) | Tel: 800 202 013 |
| Elderly Helpline: (Linha do Cidadão Idoso) Line open Monday to Friday 09:30-17:30 |
Tel: 800 203 531 |
| Family Lines: (family problems/abuse) (Associação Portuguesa de Famílias Anónimas - APFA) | Tel: 214 538 709 |
| HIV/AIDS Support Group: (Abraço) | Tel: 800 225 115 Website |
| Pregnancy Helpline: (SOS-Grávida) | Tel: 808 201 139 Tel: 213 862 020 |
| Health 24 (24 hour public health assistance service): | Tel: 808 24 24 24 |
| Red Cross: | Tel: 213 913 900 Website |
| Sexuality Helpline: (Sexualidade em Linha Aconselhamento e Orientação) | Tel: 808 222 003 |
| Stop Smoking: (SOS-Deixar de Fumar) Line open Monday to Friday 13:00-21:00 |
Tel: 808 208 888 |
| Victim Support Line: (Associação Portuguesa de Apoio à Vitima) Line open Monday to Friday 10:00-13-00, 14:00-17:30 |
Tel: 707 200 077 |
| Women Abuse: Commission for Equality & Women's Rights (Comissão para a Igualdade a para os Direitos das Mulheres) | Tel: 800 202 148 |
Glossary of Emergency Terms and Phrases
| English | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| I have had an accident | eu teve um acidente |
| This is an emergency | temos uma emergência |
| I need an ambulance | preciso uma ambulância |
| I need a doctor | preciso um médico |
| I need the police | chamar a polícia |
| Heart attack | Infarct |
| I have had / he/she has had a stroke | Eu sofrei/ ele/ela sofreou um aneurisma, ataque apopléctico |
| Very sick | muito doente |
| Unconscious | inconsciente |
| Where is the nearest hospital? | Onde e o hospital mais próximo? |
| Is there a pharmacy near here? | Há uma farmácia aqui perto? |
| Call the fire services | Chamar os bombeiros |
| I have had a car accident | Eu teve um acidente de carro |
| I have been robbed/mugged | Eu fui vitimo dum assalto! |
Further Information
- Information on the 112 number from the European Commission website