Emergency numbers, Embassy Emergency Contact list, Help lines

Summoning help in an emergency – Calling 112

When an emergency happens it is important to summon help quickly. Emergencies can range from dealing with a serious accident; a heart attack; a fire or being a victim of crime. Portugal is very well equipped to deal with a whole range of emergencies and in many cases has some of best trained and equipped response services in Europe.

Emergency Information and Contact Poster for your Home

Dealing with an emergency and calling 112 can be a stressful time, so having information immediately available will help you in summoning help.

Safe Communities Portugal has designed a poster to help you in this respect. Download it in English and Portuguese here:

Emergency Information and Contacts  (Coloured version)

Emergency Information and Contacts BW  (Black and white version)

Please fill in and place in a conspicuous place in your home, inside entrance doors for instance.

If you family and friends staying with you, ensure they are aware.

If you rent a property to clients also ensure they are aware.

Our thanks to ANEPC in supporting this initiative.

112 Background information

Since 1981 Portugal has had an Integrated Medical Emergency System (SIEM), which is a set of entities that cooperate with one goal: providing assistance to victims of an accident or sudden illness. These entities are the PSP, GNR, INEM, the fire department, the Portuguese Red Cross, Hospitals and Health Centres. INEM is the agency of the Ministry of Health responsible for coordinating the operation in mainland Portugal.

The system starts when someone calls 112 – The European Emergency Number. The service call connects to the national emergency centre operated by the PSP. Where the reason for the call has to do with health, it is transferred to the Center’s Guidance Emergency Patients (CODU) unit under INEM. Whenever CODU initiates an emergency response it is handled by the unit closest to the place of occurrence, regardless of the entity to which it belongs. More information can be found at the INEM website.

When dealing with an emergency it is important to remain calm and follow the emergency centre operator’s advice. It is also essential that these numbers are only used in a genuine emergency, as non-emergency calls can result in delayed response to those requiring urgent assistance. English is understood but it is essential to speak clearly giving your name, location and nature of the emergency.

In addition to ensuring quick access to emergency contact details, Safe Communities Portugal has researched and provided on this page a comprehensive list of the various help lines and hotlines in the country. These range from who to contact in the case of domestic violence, poisoning cases and child neglect. Please note English may not be spoken in all of these services.

More details concerning the above points following a visit to the Lisbon 112 Call centre on April 2022 can be found here

During disasters – Embassy and Consular team contact list 

During disasters such as major fires, or other incidents they affect a number of people affected in urgent need may need to contact their Embassy/Consular team out of office hours . Here is a list: