Who to call in the event of an accident during the holidays?

Who to call in the event of an accident during the holidays?

Who to call in the event of an accident during the holidays?

Despite all the precautions taken, a person or a family on vacation may be the victim of or witness an accident. Who should I call to call for help? What information should be given to the contact person to facilitate the intervention of the rescuers? What about travel insurance in all of this? These are essential points that a vacationer must remember at the appropriate time.

 

What if the accident takes place in France?

 

An accident can happen so quickly, it is important to know how to react effectively in this situation. In France, if the victims need rapid medical assistance, they must first call the SAMU by dialing 15 on their mobile. If it is an accident on a highway, you can also use one of the emergency call points distributed every 2 kilometers. You must then notify the firefighters at 18 to secure people and their property.

 

The same numbers are also used to manage domestic accidents which may also occur during your holidays in France, whether drowning, burns, falls, electrocution, choking, biting or poisoning, your reaction speed can save lives. Indeed, nearly 20,000 people die each year following a domestic accident and the fact of immediately calling the emergency services by providing them with an accurate report of the situation increases the chances of survival of the victims.

 

What to do in case of accidents abroad?

 

In the event of an accident during your holidays in Europe, you must immediately dial the European emergency number, 112. This call is completely free and can be made from your mobile or from a public booth. It allows you to contact all the emergency services of the country where you are at the same time.

 

If your stay is outside of Europe, it's always a good idea to find out the emergency numbers for your destination country and write them down somewhere.

 

On a Smartphone, you can also download “Emergency” applications which allow you to locate your call by GPS and directly contact the emergency services of the country where you are.

 

What information should be given to the emergency services?

 

It is imperative to communicate to the emergency services your telephone number as well as the exact indication of the place of the accident. It is also necessary to specify the nature of the accident with the risks incurred and the number of victims. If possible, you must describe the state of health of each of them as well as the first aid provided. Wait for confirmation of receipt of this information by your contact and answer any questions that may be asked of you accurately before hanging up.

 

The advantage of taking out travel insurance

 

If you are the victim of an accident outside France, having taken out good international travel insurance can save you a lot of inconvenience and heavy expenses. Indeed, this type of insurance guarantees the coverage of medical expenses in the event of hospitalization abroad and provides you with an assistance service to help you.

 

The role of the travel insurance assistance service

 

If you have taken out travel insurance, in the event of an accident or hospitalization abroad, it is necessary to call the assistance service ("assistance") as soon as possible. This must be reachable 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Its role is to manage this type of claim and help you find the best solution to your problem.

 

The ideal is to call the assistance service before a transfer to the emergency room or hospitalization. If the situation does not allow this, the assistance company should be notified as soon as possible.

 

To act effectively, this service first checks the validity of the insurance as well as the guarantees of the contract. Based on this data, the insured is supported in the various procedures to be followed to find the solution best suited to their situation.

 

Therefore, it is essential to always have on hand the contact details of the assistance service as well as the insurance certificate number.

 

Accidents are part of the vagaries of travel. Knowing the numbers to contact in the event of an emergency allows you to quickly activate help and save the lives of your loved ones or other victims. Taking out travel insurance covers you in the event of a health problem abroad by benefiting from the coverage of medical expenses incurred and rapid assistance.

 

Further information

 

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