Emergency Phone Numbers in Chile

What happens if you have an emergency while in Chile? If you need an ambulance or help from the police, what should you do?

While Chile doesn’t have one simple number you can call for any emergency (like 911 in the United States), they do have a a standard set of phone numbers for getting emergency help from anywhere in the country:

Ambulance

If you need medical care in an emergency, call an ambulance.
Call: 131

Fire

In case of fire, call the firefighters, or “bomberos”. In Chile, firefighters are volunteers.
Call: 132

Police

If you need help from the police–for example, if you are in a car accident or are assaulted–call the Carabineros. They are Chile’s national police force. You’ll recognize them by their army green uniforms and green and white vehicles.
Call: 133

How to Remember What to Call

Is it too hard to remember all these numbers? Remember they all start with 13 and use this simple memory device:

Just remember “ABC 123″

A for Ambulance 131

B for Bomberos 132

C for Carabineros 133

Posted February 17th, 2010 in Ask Pepe, Travel.