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 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:
Name | What they do | Tel/Fax | Address | Website | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fire Services | Emergency response to fires | 112 | |||
Public Health Line | Health advice to citizens. Telephone helpdesk 24 hrs per day | 800 242 424 | |||
Maritime Police | Coastal patrol and emergencies at sea | 210 911 100 | |||
Medical Emergency | Emergency response to medical emergency | 112 | |||
National Social Emergency Line | All people in social emergency in Domestic violence; Abandonment; Homeless; Children and young people in danger | 144 | |||
Poisons | Urgent advice provided | 808 250 142 | |||
Police | Includes Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR) and Policia Seguranca Publica (PSP | 112 | |||
Sea Rescue | Maritime Search and Rescue Service | 112, 214 401 919 |
Name | What they do | Tel/Fax | Address | Website | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alcoholics Anonymous | Share with each other their experience, strength and hope to solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. | 217 162 969 | Praça D. Miguel I, Nº 3 C 2660-310 SANTO ANTÓNIO DOS CAVALEIROS | ajuda@aaportugal.org | www.aaportugal.org |
Anti-Alcoholic Portuguese Society | Organization for the prevention of alcohol related problems and support to the alcoholics | 213571483, Fax 213152313 | Rua Febo Moniz, 13 - 1º 1150-152, Lisboa, | saapmail@clix.p | www.saap.web.pt/ |
Poison Line | INEM Provides information regarding the diagnosis, toxicity, treatment and prognosis of exposure to toxic - human and animal - and acute or chronic poisoning. | 808 250 143 (24 hours) | Rua Almirante Barroso, 36 1000-013 Lisbon | ciav.tox@inem.pt | www.inem.pt/ciav |
Name | What they do | Tel/Fax | Address | Website | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Child Helpline | Childline intended to receive complaints relating to children and youth who are at risk or in danger | 800 206 656 Monday to Friday 09.30 – 17.30 hrs | www.provedor-jus.pt/?idc=54 | ||
SOS Child Line | Promotion of children’s rights Crimes against children | SOS – Child 116111 SOS – Missing child 116000 | Largo da Memória, 14 LISBOA 1349-045 Portugal | iac-sede@iacrianca.pt | www.iacrianca.pt/ |
SOS Line Student | Help and emotional support for students, suicide, stress, loneliness, sexuality | 808 200 204 969 554 545 Monday to Friday 20.00-0100 hrs | www.facebook.com/sos.estudante.1 |
Name | What they do | Tel/Fax | Address | Website | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
APAV | Support for victims of crime | 707 200 077 Monday – Friday 10.00-13.00 hrs & 14.00-1730 hrs | Rua José Estêvão, 135 A, Pisos 1/2 1150-201 Lisboa Portugal | apav.sede@apav.pt | www.apav.pt/apav_v2/index.php/pt/ |
Name | What they do | Tel/Fax | Address | Website | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Drug Abuse Support (Linha VIDA – SOS Drogos | Information, counselling, support and referral in the field of drug addiction. | 1414 Mondays to Fridays 10.00 – 20.00 hrs | Avenida da República n.º 61 - do 1º ao 3º e do 7º ao 9º 1050-189 Lisboa | 1414@idt.min-saude.pt | |
Narcoticos Anonimos | Association of recovering addicts who meet regularly in order to help each other in and stay clean. | 800 202 013 | Apartado 526 EC, 2796-801 Carnaxide | lintel@na-pt.org | www.na-pt.org/ |
Famílias Anónimas | People whose lives have been affected by the use of psychoactive chemicals or behaviours related to it | 916 718 947 962 688 811 | Rua Manuel Almeida Vasconcelos, Lote 51, 2º Dt. Quinta do Barão 2775-714 Carcavelos | familiasanonimas1987@gmail.com | www.familiasanonimas-pt.org/ |
Name | What they do | Tel/Fax | Address | Website | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cancer Help Line | Advice line support (medical, psychological and social assistance) and information about cancer. | 213 619 542 | Av. de Ceuta Norte, Bairro do Loureiro, Lote 11 - Loja 2 1350-410 Lisboa | uhdc@netcabo.pt | www.doentescomcancro.org/uhdc/ |
Contra O Cancro | Inform and support people with cancer and their family or friends in aspects relating to the disease, | 808 255 255 | Avenida Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro, nº 57 - 3º Frente 1070-061 - Lisboa | linhacancro@ligacontracancro.pt | www.ligacontracancro.pt/gca/index.php?id=145 |
Associaçção Conversa Amiga | People in loneliness and exclusion | 808 237 327 | Alto do Pina, Lisboa | geral@conversa.pt | www.conversa.pt/ |
HIV/AIDS (Linha SIDA) | Service conducted by technicians with specific training in the area of HIV / AIDS and telephone counselling | 800 20 10 40 (17.30-21.30 hrs) | Rua do Crucifixo, n.º40, 4.º Esq.- 1100-183 Lisboa | www.lpcs.pt/ | |
Linha do Cidadão com Deficiência | Help and information for citizens with disabilities | 800 208 462 (09.30-1730 hrs) | www.provedor-jus.pt/?idc=56 | ||
Public Health Line 24 | Health advice to citizens. On line chat facility 24 hrs per day | 808 24 24 24 Tel 210 126 946 (Fax) | www.saude24.pt/ | ||
SOS Voz Amiga | Helpdesk in acute situations of suffering caused by Loneliness, Anxiety, Depression and Risk. | 21 354 45 45, 91 280 26 69, 96 352 46 60, (16.00 – 24.00 hrs) | Liga Portuguesa de Higiene Mental Av. Júlio Dinis, 23 – 1.º Esq.[Campo Pequeno, 1050-130 Lisboa | direccaolphm@gmail.com | www.sosvozamiga.org/ |
Telefone da Amizade | Helpline for those with problems, are desperate or lonely. | 228 323 535, 16.00-2300 hrs daily | jo@telefone-amizade.pt | www.telefone-amizade.pt/site/ |
Name | What they do | Tel/Fax | Address | Website | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saude Sexual e Reprodutiva | Talk to someone about sex, pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, homosexuality, termination of pregnancy | Sexuality 808 222 003, Unwanted pregnancies 707 200 249 | apfsede@apf.pt | www.apf.pt/?area=003&mid=005&sid=004 | |
Health Portal | Pregnancy Hotline Sexuality and family planning support | 213 862 020, 808 20 11 39, 213 827 859 (Fax) | Rua do Arco do Carvalhão, n.º 282 - 1350-026 Lisboa | ajudademae@ajudademae.pt | www.ajudademae.pt/ |
Name | What they do | Tel/Fax | Address | Website | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
On-line Senior Citizens | Help senior citizens rights and benefits, in such important areas as health, social security, housing | 800 20 35 31. 09.30-1730 hrs | www.provedor-jus.pt/ |
Name | What they do | Tel/Fax | Address | Website | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Commission for Equality & Women’s Rights | Abuse against women and domestic violence | 800 202 148, 239 832 073 | Parque Infantil do Alvito, Estrada do Alvito, Monsanto. 1300-054 Lisboa | plataforma@plataformamulheres.org.pt | www.plataformamulheres.org.pt |
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